Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: October 2, 2018
• Invested on: June 13, 2019

Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Wesley Bressette, M.B., C.D.
Bedford, Nova Scotia
Master Corporal Jesus Rodrigo Castillo, M.B.
Toronto, Ontario
Master Corporal Kashif Dar, M.B.
Mississauga, Ontario
Sergeant Andrea Karistinos, M.B., C.D.
Bradford, Ontario

On March 14, 2016, Petty Officer 1st Class Charles Bressette, Sergeant Andrea Karistinos and master corporals Kashif Dar and Jesus Castillo intervened in an armed attack at the Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre in Toronto, Ontario. Armed with a knife, the attacker entered the lobby of the centre and began punching and stabbing a soldier at the front desk. PO1 Bressette leapt over the front desk, using a chair to block the assailant. MCpl Castillo rushed into the front lobby and shielded a civilian with his body. The armed man then tackled MCpl Castillo to the ground, stabbing him in the lower ribcage. MCpl Dar charged the assailant, allowing MCpl Castillo to break free and move the civilian and the first victim to a safer location. The soldiers corralled the assailant as Sgt Karistinos wrestled the knife from the man’s grip and tackled him to the floor. PO1 Bressette, Sgt Karistinos and MCpl Dar then physically restrained the attacker until the police arrived.