Star of Courage

• Awarded on: October 30, 2013
• Invested on: October 03, 2014

Master Corporal Shawn Gregory Bretschneider, S.C.
Sergeant Janick Joseph Benoit Gilbert, S.C., C.D. (posthumous)
Master Corporal Marco A. Journeyman, S.C., C.D.
Master Corporal Maxime Bernard Lahaye-Lemay, S.C.
Sergeant Daniel Villeneuve, S.C., M.B., C.D.
Star of Courage

On October 27, 2011, search and rescue (SAR) technicians Shawn Bretschneider, Janick Gilbert, Marco Journeyman, Maxime Lahaye-Lemay and Daniel Villeneuve braved severe weather conditions to rescue two hunters, stranded on the Arctic Ocean, near Igloolik, Nunavut. A team of three SAR techs parachuted down into seven-metre-high waves, but was soon separated in the huge swells. Five hours later, the second team of two SAR techs was lowered from a helicopter and, struggling in the same harsh conditions, succeeded in locating everyone and hoisting them into a helicopter. Sadly, Sergeant Gilbert did not survive.