Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: August 23, 1976
• Invested on: June 23, 1978

On 20 July 1975, seventeen-year-old Wilbert Menacho rescued a fifteen-year-old boy from drowning in the MacKenzie River. Intoxicated, the younger boy had jumped into the river to show his prowess as a swimmer and was floundering in the icy water when Wilbert spotted him. By the time Wilbert reached him he was sinking and had to be pulled up by the hair. Though the rescuer fought valiantly, he became exhausted and was making little headway. Fortunately, a boat from shore took the two young men aboard just as they were about to disappear underwater.