Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 14, 2000
• Invested on: December 08, 2000

Danuta Kaluza, M.B.
Francis Philpott Jr., M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On September 16, 1999, Danuta Kaluza and Francis Philpott saved five young girls from a black bear near Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. Mrs. Kaluza and the children she was babysitting, aged three to seven, were picking blueberries when a bear charged in their direction. As Mrs. Kaluza rushed the children toward their truck, the youngest girl fell and the animal pounced on her. Mrs. Kaluza immediately confronted it, causing it to release the child, but it did not back off. When Mr. Philpott arrived, alerted by the screams, he and Mrs. Kaluza waved their arms and made enough noise to drive the animal a short distance away. With the bear dangerously near, they managed to bring all the children to the safety of the truck.