Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: June 16, 2005
• Invested on: December 02, 2005

On December 30, 2003, Sgt. Gino Paré went to the aid of a man who had fallen into the Rivière du Nord after jumping from a bridge to avoid being struck by an out-of-control vehicle in Saint-Jérôme, Quebec. In spite of having sprained his knee when he jumped out of the path of the skidding car, Sgt. Paré scaled down the hill to reach the injured man, who had tumbled down the steep incline and was lying in the water, five metres from the ice-covered shore. While clutching a concrete pillar with one hand, Sgt. Paré grabbed the victim's arm with the other to prevent him from slipping back into the fast-flowing river. Although weakened by his efforts, Sgt. Paré held onto the man until help arrived ten minutes later.