Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 12, 2001
• Invested on: December 06, 2001

Jean Charlebois, M.B.
Blair Thomas, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On August 8, 2000, Jean Charlebois and Blair Thomas risked their lives to rescue a man from a burning building in Ottawa, Ontario. Alerted by fire alarms and seeing smoke coming from a second-floor window of a rooming house, both men ran into the building to search for occupants but were forced back outside twice by the intense heat and choking smoke. While Mr. Charlebois caught his breath, Mr. Thomas returned upstairs for the third time and located a man who appeared dazed. Despite the spreading flames, he guided him out of the burning home before racing back in to continue his search for other victims. In zero visibility and with the fire conditions worsening rapidly, he became disoriented and could no longer find his way to the door. Concerned about Mr. Thomas' safety, Mr. Charlebois re-entered the building and, hearing his cries for help, felt his way along the walls to the second floor where he found him, then guided him outside to safety.