Shawn Everett Leckey, M.B.
Christopher Rector, M.B.
Medal of Bravery
Late in the afternoon of 29 December 1981, eight-year-old Shawn Leckey and eleven-year-old Chris Rector imperilled their own lives in the rescue of Shawn's sister in the Nasonworth Stream, near Fredericton, in New Brunswick. On their return from school the children had gone to play on the ice under the Nasonworth Bridge, thinking it was safe. The six-year-old girl had wandered out on the frozen surface and the ice gave way under her weight. Seeing his sister submerged in the cold water, young Shawn at once went to her aid. He crawled out on the thin ice and grabbed the girl by the arms but was not strong enough to drag her out. Though the ice was cracking all around them, Chris Rector approached open water on his hands and knees, and stretched beside Shawn. In a test of will, the two boys combined efforts and pulled the little girl to safety.