Please note that the information below reflects the rank of the recipients at the time of their award.
Star of Courage/Medal of Bravery
Leosette Canoy Hansen, S.C.
Peace River, British Columbia
Adrian Bartolome, M.B.
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
Wennali Eden May Canoy, M.B.
Dawson Creek, British Columbia
On October 3, 2022, a bear attacked hikers near Dawson Creek, British Columbia. When the bear started mauling their friend, Leosette Hansen, Wennali Canoy and Adrian Bartolome tried to fight it off. Leosette used her body as a shield and urged the others to flee. Unable to stop the bear, Wennali and Adrian left to seek help. Both Leosette and the victim were later found and rescued by police.
Paul Derkach, S.C.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
James Honeyman, M.B.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Linda Kendig, M.B.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Shane Mattenley, M.B.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
David Parmenter, M.B.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
Lavinia Taylor, M.B.
Salmon Arm, British Columbia
On April 14, 2019, an armed man entered a church in Salmon Arm, British Columbia, shot a church elder and fled. As parishioners ran from the scene, others stayed to help. The assailant returned, shot the elder again and injured Paul Derkach, who was shielding the victim. James Honeyman, Linda Kendig, Shane Mattenley, David Parmenter and Lavinia Taylor then disarmed and restrained the perpetrator until police arrived.
The decorations awarded to James Honeyman, Linda Kendig, Shane Mattenley and Lavinia Taylor will be presented to them at a later date.
Matthew Zdybal, S.C. (posthumous)
Toronto, Ontario
On January 29, 2021, a fire engulfed a home undergoing renovation in Toronto, Ontario. Resident Matthew Zdybal woke to find the house in flames. He alerted others and fled the building. After learning some people were still trapped inside, he re-entered the home and attempted to rescue a mother and her seven-year-old child. Sadly, Matthew, the child and the child’s grandmother died during the incident.
The decoration awarded to the late Matthew Zdybal will be presented to his mother, Nina Zdybal.
Medal of Bravery
Adam Attalla, M.B.
Mississauga, Ontario
On January 15, 2022, a fire broke out in a home in Mississauga, Ontario, trapping five children inside. While two escaped, three remained trapped on the top floor. Neighbour Adam Atalla entered the adjoining house, climbed onto the roof, and safely guided the remaining children out through the window and down to the ground.
Sergeant Ayrton Balfour, M.B., C.D.
Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta
Ranger Laurent Kringayark, M.B.
Naujaat, Nunavut
Ranger Oscar Kringayark, M.B.
Naujaat, Nunavut
Ranger Robert Kopak, M.B.
Naujaat, Nunavut
Ranger Danny Sanertanut, M.B.
Naujaat, Nunavut
On March 17, 2020, Sergeant Ayrton Balfour, and Rangers Laurent Kringayark, Oscar Kringayark, Robert Kopak and Danny Sanertanut rescued two stranded French nationals in a blizzard near Naujaat, Nunavut. When other service providers could not respond to the call for help, the crew travelled more than 260 km through extreme weather conditions and -60°C temperatures to rescue the pair.
The decorations awarded to Rangers Laurent Kringayark, Oscar Kringayark and Robert Kopak will be presented to them at a later date.
David Jameson Bond, M.B.
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
Bertha Nakoolak, M.B.
Rankin Inlet, Nunavut
On June 13, 2021, a woman fell through thin ice while fishing on the Meliadine River, in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. David Bond and Bertha Nakoolak heard her screams and quickly responded. David ran to the site, while Bertha arrived on an ATV. The pair slowly inched forward onto the cracking ice, reached into the water and successfully pulled the woman to safety.
Constable Olivier Boulanger-Pouchet, M.B.
Saint-Hubert, Quebec
Constable Hugo Francescutti, M.B.
Saint-Basile-le-Grand, Quebec
Sergeant Thierry Hinse-Fillion, M.B.
Otterburn Park, Quebec
Constable Marianne Lachapelle, M.B.
Saint-Mathias-sur-Richelieu, Quebec
Constable Jean-Fabien Larouche, M.B.
Saint-Hubert, Quebec
On September 2, 2022, constables Olivier Boulanger-Pouchet and Marianne Lachapelle responded to a house fire in Longueuil, Quebec. They immediately entered the building and began evacuating residents amid rising flames. Sergeant Thierry Hinse-Fillion and constables Jean-Fabien Larouche and Hugo Francescutti arrived on-scene and helped a man with a disability down from the third floor. Later, constables Lachapelle and Boulanger-Pouchet rescued two children from a third-floor balcony.
Sergeant Jonathan Carson, M.B., C.D.
Montréal, Quebec
On February 28, 2022, in Montréal, Quebec, Sergeant Jonathan Carson noticed a fire at a neighbour’s house. He confirmed 911 was called before entering the smoke-filled building. Realizing a woman was unconscious in the kitchen, he retrieved gloves and a wet rag for protection, re-entered the burning home and pulled her to safety. He returned a third time to ensure that no one else was trapped.
David Gauthier-Garand, M.B.
Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec
On the morning of September 14, 2021, David Gauthier-Garand and his fellow firefighters responded to a fire at the General Dynamics factory in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec. Informed someone was trapped inside, David and his team located the individual down a 20-foot hole. When a ladder rescue failed, David lowered himself head-first into the hole while another firefighter held onto his legs. David then successfully pulled the victim to safety.
Dr. Kenneth Hahlweg, M.B.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
On October 27, 2021, Dr. Kenneth Hahlweg helped an employee who was attacked by a co-worker at Seven Oaks General Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Dr. Hahlweg found the victim bleeding and the attacker ready to strike again. The doctor tackled the assailant and chased him from the hospital, where he was caught by police. Thankfully, the victim survived the injuries sustained in the attack.
Pier-Luc Laliberté, M.B.
Sainte-Marthe-sur-le-Lac, Quebec
On August 22, 2020, Pier-Luc Laliberté attempted to rescue two paddle boarders in Parc national d’Oka, Quebec. Hearing cries for help, Pier-Luc and a friend entered the water to assist. While his friend turned back due to the dangerous water conditions, Pier-Luc persevered, reaching the first person and bringing them to safety. Despite his efforts and help from others, Pier-Luc was sadly unable to save the other victim.
Sergeant Makenzie Lee, M.B.
Kamloops, British Columbia
Laura Ronson, M.B.
North Vancouver, British Columbia
On November 14, 2021, off-duty nurse Laura Ronson and Sergeant Makenzie Lee helped rescue a family from a mudslide near Hope, British Columbia. Laura descended a treacherous slope to where the family was trapped in an overturned minivan. Sergeant Lee set up a support rope and assisted with the rescue from the hillside. Together, they extracted the family, including an injured and unconscious 14-year-old boy.
Constable Piero Matta, M.B.
Lasalle, Quebec
On October 17, 2020, in Montréal, Quebec, off-duty Constable Piero Matta saved his 93-year-old neighbour from a house fire. With the help of his sons, Constable Matta broke a window and entered the home. He persisted through intense smoke and a sudden explosion, pausing momentarily for air before continuing the search. He located the woman and carried her to safety shortly before he lost consciousness.
Mark McCulloch, M.B.
Lively, Ontario
On July 13, 2020, Mark McCulloch saved a woman with a disability from a fire at a group home in New Tecumseth, Ontario. Mark discovered the building engulfed in flames. He entered alone, navigating thick smoke and intense flames, and found a resident on the second floor. Despite significant communication challenges and resistance from the victim, Mark managed to carry her outside to safety.
2nd Lieutenant Alexander McGuckin, M.B.
Montréal, Quebec
On July 1, 2022, 2nd Lieutenant Alexander McGuckin helped save a woman from a fire in Montréal, Quebec. Spotting a triplex on fire, 2nd Lieutenant McGuckin and another unidentified man broke into the building and proceeded to a second-floor apartment. They traversed heavy smoke and found an unconscious woman. The two men carried her to safety and administered first aid until emergency services arrived.
James Edward O’Neil, M.B.
Bathurst, New Brunswick
On January 12, 2019, James O’Neil intervened in a shooting in Bathurst, New Brunswick. A man entered a karaoke bar with a loaded shotgun to confront his ex-girlfriend. In the ensuing struggle, James O’Neil grabbed the barrel of the gun, causing a misfire. The assailant continued to chase the victim but, with the help of other patrons, he was subdued and held until police arrived.
Constable Brendon Pacey, M.B.
Carleton Place, Ontario
On June 2, 2022, Provincial Constable Brendon Pacey tried to keep a man from jumping off a bridge in Ottawa, Ontario. The constable calmly engaged with the man and held onto him for as long as he could. Despite the constable’s best efforts, the man still fell, suffering serious injuries. Thankfully, a nearby officer immediately closed the lane below to prevent further injury to the victim.
Brendan Prough, M.B.
Trail, British Columbia
On November 26, 2019, off-duty firefighter Brendan Prough came across a burning vehicle while driving in Yahk, British Columbia. As others on the scene backed away from the intense heat, Brendan entered the vehicle to remove the lone occupant. Once the driver was free, Brendan dragged him to safety and administered CPR. Sadly, the driver died before emergency services arrived.
Katelynn Saengdala, M.B.
Kitchener, Ontario
On August 27, 2020, Katelynn Saengdala rescued two people from a rip current in Lake Erie, near Port Colborne, Ontario. Recovering from a spinal fracture at that time, Katelynn swam out 50 feet into the turbulent waters, grabbed them by the arm and pulled them halfway to shore. Exhausted, Katelynn was then aided by another individual with a flotation device. All three were safely towed to shore.
Kyleen Weldon, M.B.
Fort Erie, Ontario
On July 11, 2022, Kyleen Weldon helped save two boys from drowning near Fort Erie, Ontario. Kyleen saw two boys struggling in the water, one submerged and the other clinging to the rocks. She swam out to them, fighting against the dangerous currents. She pulled the first to the surface and then helped the other, who was barely hanging on. Thankfully, neighbours arrived to help complete the rescue.
James Whiting, M.B.
Stittsville, Ontario
On November 24, 2022, Jamie Whiting saw a dog and its owner fall through the thin ice of a pond in Stittsville, Ontario. He ran to his truck, retrieved a shovel and returned to the pond. Lying flat on the ice, he extended the shovel out to the man and pulled him to safety. Firefighters showed up moments later and rescued the dog.