Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: April 18, 2002
• Invested on: December 09, 2002

At dusk on December 30, 2000, Alain Lavoie saved a man and a woman from drowning after the ice had given way under the weight of their snowmobile on the Mistassini River in Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec. During an outing with family and friends, Mr. Lavoie saw the victims' snowmobile disappear into the frigid water some fifteen metres from shore. Grabbing a rope and a flashlight, Mr. Lavoie moved to within a few metres of the victims who were desperately trying to get back onto the unstable surface. With the ice cracking beneath him, he threw the rope to the nearest victim who, panic-stricken, finally managed to grab hold of it after several attempts. Mr. Lavoie pulled the young woman from the water, then returned for the man who was even farther from shore. Repeating the manoeuvre, he was able to drag the man over the thin ice to a safe place, where other snowmobilers came to their aid.