Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: September 6, 2001
• Invested on: June 28, 2002

Anna Bouchard, M.B.
Jacques Fortin, M.B.
Medal of Bravery

On February 7, 1999, in Notre-Dame-du-Rosaire, Quebec, Anna Bouchard and Jacques Fortin risked their lives helping a woman who was being attacked by a man armed with a hammer. The victim, who was desperately trying to escape her assailant, ran into a neighbouring house screaming and begging the occupants, including Mr. Fortin and Ms. Bouchard, to help her. Mr. Fortin tried to restrain the assailant from pursuing the victim, but he managed to shake off Mr. Fortin's grip and catch the victim who was fleeing outside. As she reached them, Ms. Bouchard approached the man brandishing the hammer and, fearing that the victim would be injured further, placed herself between the woman and her assailant. Ms. Bouchard suffered several hammer blows to the arm before she managed to push the man to the ground. Witnessing the scene unfold as he ran toward them, Mr. Fortin rushed to the assailant, disarmed him and, with the help of others, restrained him until the arrival of the police.