Star of Courage

• Awarded on: December 1, 1975
• Invested on: February 16, 1976

Captain John Joseph Arpin, S.C., Rexdale, Ontario
Star of Courage

For several hours, on November 12, 1971, Purser John Arpin displayed exceptional courage and judgement when delegated to carry out errands for a hijacker who threatened to take the lives of everyone on board an Air Canada DC8, out of Calgary, Alberta. The extortionist ordered the aircraft to land at Great Falls, Montana, where he obtained the ransom money, and instructed Mr. Arpin to count it in front of him. Under circumstances of great pressure, the Purser shrewdly converted figures and satisfied the hijacker that the $1 1/2 million requested had been delivered when, in fact, there was only $50,000.00. Mr. Arpin, who was already under tremendous stress and had suffered numerous threats on his life, was again ordered by the hijacker to retrieve a piece of luggage from the baggage compartment. With no more than ten minutes allowed to him and the life of the stewardess, Miss Mary Dohey, at stake, Mr. Arpin promptly completed this most unnerving task on time, and chose to rejoin his comrades in the aircraft, and share their fate. By his example of selfless courage and integrity, Purser John Arpin brought comfort to all those who shared in this perilous ordeal.

Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: December 1, 1975