Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 29, 1986
• Invested on: December 05, 1986

On 7 April 1985, Carla Van Dam launched a canoe and paddled to the rescue of her husband and a friend whose canoe had been tipped over by a cross current in Seymour Narrows. At the risk of being drawn under, she braved a series of dangerous whirlpools and inched her way to the scene. Tangled in their sinking canoe, the two men had drifted into the turbulence and had been sucked under several times. As Carla approached the area, one victim surfaced and managed to climb into the back of the canoe. Moments later, the rescuer's husband appeared on the surface. He grabbed the stern and was able to hold on while being towed to shore amid the treacherous water.