Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 22, 1988
• Invested on: June 02, 1989

At about 2:45 a.m. on July 9, 1987, Christian Desjardins risked his life to rescue a family from a burning house in Calumet, Quebec. Informed that the house across the street was on fire, he immediately raced to the scene. He broke down the front door of the dwelling but was driven back by the flames. Running to the back of the house he forced open the door to the verandah, then the kitchen door. Hampered by the heavy smoke, he crawled to the stairway leading to the upper floor and climbed the stairs while yelling to rouse the four occupants. Wakened by the rescuer's cries, one young man went to warn his parents of the fire while Mr. Desjardins went to wake up his brother. With the help of the two young men he was able to evacuate the parents. Without Mr. Desjardins' quick action all four would undoubtedly have lost their lives.