Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 5, 1976
• Invested on: June 28, 1976

Bernard Nestor Stephaniuk, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

Bernard Stephaniuk led a search for a man whose half-ton truck veered out of control and rolled head-on into a slough at Wishart, Saskatchewan on July 20, 1974. When his vehicle came to a stop, some 125 feet from the shoreline, the driver attempted to return ashore but lost consciousness and disappeared underwater. Mr. Stephaniuk and a friend who had been driving closely behind, stopped at the scene and were joined by a local farmer who had also witnessed the mishap. As none of the men could swim, Mr. Stephaniuk wrapped one hand with barbed wire found nearby and led the search into the murky water of unknown depth. When the wire was fully extended, the others carefully followed behind. The victim was stumbled upon shortly thereafter and carried ashore, where Mr. Stephaniuk revived him with artificial respiration.