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Governor General announces 14 Decorations for Bravery
August 29, 2003
OTTAWA — Her Excellency the Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, Governor General of Canada, today announced the granting of fourteen Medals of Bravery for acts of heroism.
Recipients will be invited to accept their decorations at a ceremony to be held at a later date.
On the recommendation of the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee
(Bravery), the Governor General has announced the following awards:
Medal of Bravery
| Acting Sub-Lieutenant Allan Herbert Brannen, M.B. |
Barrington, Nova Scotia |
| Markham Donald Bunnah, M.B. |
Calgary, Alberta |
| Andrew Roderick Campbell, M.B. |
Big Bras d'Or, Nova Scotia |
| Mohamed Chelali, M.B. |
Surrey, British Columbia |
| George Anthony Daix, M.B. |
Glace Bay, Nova Scotia |
| Donnie Davis, M.B. |
Shelburne, Nova Scotia |
| Leading Seaman Kevin Duncan Grant, M.B. |
Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.A. |
| Jeffery Michael Klymson, M.B. |
Toronto, Ontario |
| Anthony Paul McNaughton, M.B. (Posthumous) |
Vancouver, B.C. |
| Andrew Adrien Earl (Andy) Moffitt, M.B. (Posthumous) |
Ottawa, Ontario |
| Paul Herman Morin, M.B. |
Auclair, Québec |
| Master Corporal Steeve Joseph Perron, M.B., C.D. |
St-Amable, Quebec |
| Pearl Audrey Shaw, M.B.(Posthumous) |
Hanmer, Ontario |
| Albert Shedrick, M.B. |
Ville St-Pierre, Quebec |
The Decorations for Bravery––the Cross of Valour, the Star of
Courage and the Medal of Bravery––were established in 1972 as part of
the Canadian Honours System.
The Cross of Valour is awarded for acts of the most conspicuous
courage in circumstances of extreme peril. The Star of Courage is
awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great
peril. The Medal of Bravery is awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous
circumstances.
To obtain the citations for the recipients, please visit our website at: http://www.gg.ca/media/doc.asp?lang=e&DocID=4008
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Media information
Rideau Hall Press Office
(613) 993-8157 or (613) 998-7280 or (613) 998-0287
www.gg.ca
Public information
The Chancellery, Government House
(613) 993-2569 or 1 800 465-6890
For more information on the Canadian Honours System, please visit the Governor General's web site at www.gg.ca
Citations
Acting Sub-Lieutenant Allan Herbert Brannen, M.B., Barrington, Nova Scotia
Donnie Davis, M.B., Shelburne, Nova Scotia
Medal of Bravery
On August 2, 2002, A/SLt Allan Brannen and Donald Davis
rescued two men who were severely injured during an explosion aboard
their fishing vessel at the South Side Wharf on Cape Sable Island, Nova
Scotia. Messrs. Brannen and Davis were working nearby when they
witnessed one man being blown into the water by the blast while the
other was left hanging onto the side of the flaming boat, some 30
metres out. Despite the risk of another explosion from remaining
propane tanks, Mr. Davis leapt from the wharf, swam to the first victim
and helped him out of the water and onto the wharf where paramedics
took over. Meanwhile, Mr. Brannen had jumped from another fishing
vessel and attached a line to the burning boat to stop it from drifting
out to sea. While other fishermen began pulling the vessel toward the
wharf, he tied another line around the second victim so that the
non-swimmer could be hauled out of the water by helping hands.
Markham Donald Bunnah, M.B., Calgary, Alberta
Medal of Bravery
On May 20, 2001, Markham Bunnah rescued a man who had
fallen from an old railroad bridge into the Bow River, in Calgary,
Alberta. Hearing cries for help, Mr. Bunnah saw the man dangling
between two railroad ties. He raced onto the bridge but, before he
could reach his side, the man lost his grip and fell into the cold
water, near a dangerous weir. Mr. Bunnah ran back to the riverbank and
dove in after him. Fighting the strong current, he swam some 50 meters
out, grabbed hold of the unconscious victim, and managed to maintain
his grip as he and the man were carried some 25 meters down river,
toward the falls. Despite weakening strength, Mr. Bunnah continued to
battle the fast-flowing waters until he reached the shore, where he
pulled the man to safety.
Andrew Roderick Campbell, M.B., Big Bras d'Or, Nova Scotia
Medal of Bravery
On August 23, 2002, 18-year-old Andrew Campbell saved his
14-year-old brother and two other boys from drowning at Inverness Beach
Village, in Nova Scotia. Andrew and his brother were swimming
during a family camping trip when they were caught in a strong undertow
some ten metres from shore. Seeing that his brother was struggling to
stay afloat, Andrew secured a body-board, swam back to the teenager and
pulled him to shallower waters. Hearing other cries for help, he then
made his way to two younger boys who were being swept farther out to
sea by riptides. Although weakened by his previous efforts, he propped
the victims onto the body-board and towed them toward the beach where
they were helped to safety.
Mohamed Chelali, M.B., Surrey, British Columbia
Medal of Bravery
On July 14, 2002, Mohamed Chelali risked his life to help
abort an assassination attempt on the President of the French Republic,
in Paris, France. Mr. Chelali was watching the traditional national
holiday military parade on the Champs Elysés when he saw a man, some
two meters away, aim a rifle at the French President. Without
hesitation, Mr. Chelali, joined by four other bystanders, tackled the
man and, in the struggle that ensued, tried to grab the gun away.
Unable to loosen the gunman's grip on the firearm, Mr. Chelali removed
the magazine from the weapon. The assailant was then restrained until
police arrived.
George Anthony Daix, M.B., Glace Bay, Nova Scotia
Medal of
Bravery
On June 30, 2002, George Daix attempted to save a
twenty-month-old girl from a burning house in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia.
When he discovered that a neighbour's house was on fire, Mr. Daix
rushed to the scene, awakened the two babysitters and instructed them
to escape with the small boy at their side. Informed that a
toddler was in a second-floor bedroom, he then raced up the stairs, but
was driven out by the thick, toxic smoke that filled the hallway.
Although suffering from smoke inhalation, Mr. Daix made two more
attempts to reach the child but was forced out each time by the intense
smoke. Despite bursting lungs, he managed on his fourth try to kick
open the child's bedroom door before being driven out again just as
emergency crews arrived. The little girl was rescued, unharmed, by a
firefighter.
Leading Seaman Kevin Duncan Grant, M.B., Lawrence, Kansas, U.S.A.
Medal of Bravery
On November 30, 2001, LS Grant helped an officer evacuate
colleagues from a smoke-filled diving chamber after the oxygen lines on
one diver's breathing apparatus exploded and caught fire at a research
facility in Toronto Ontario. LS Grant was working in a nearby lab when
the accident occurred. Although aware of the explosive potential of the
canisters of compressed gas fitted to the burning breathing set, he
donned an emergency breathing apparatus and rushed inside the unit. He
then cut the sensor cords from the divers and assisted the officer in
escorting the victims out of the hatch. Only when he had ascertained
that everyone had also made their way out of the dangerous chamber did
LS Grant follow them to safety.
Jeffery Michael Klymson, M.B., Toronto, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On May 21, 2001, Jeffery Klymson rescued a child and two
women who were caught in the fast-flowing Niagara River, three
kilometres south of Niagara Falls, Ontario. The five-year-old boy who
had slipped on rocks, and his mother who had found herself in
difficulty while going after him, were being helped by a friend when
all three were caught in the rapids and sucked into two whirlpools.
Seeing the victims disappear under water, Mr. Klymson swam out to the
first whirlpool, some three meters from shore and, fighting the
current, brought the friend back onto the rocks. He then reached the
larger eddy and pulled the mother with her son in her arms up to the
surface and safely out of the turbulent waters.
Anthony Paul McNaughton, M.B. (Posthumous), Vancouver, B.C.
Medal of Bravery
On January 29, 2000, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Paul
McNaughton lost his life while protecting an employee from an attack by
her estranged husband. The aggressor had made his way behind the
counter of the coffee shop and was threatening the woman with a butcher
knife. Hearing the domestic dispute from a back room, Mr. McNaughton
realized the gravity of the situation and ran to his colleague's help.
Without hesitation, he stepped in and confronted the agitated man,
allowing the woman to take refuge. During the struggled that ensued,
Mr. McNaughton was stabbed several times. Although fatally wounded, he
instructed the woman to save herself and run for help which prompted
the attacker to flee. Sadly, Mr. McNaughton succumbed to his wounds
but, thanks to his valiant efforts, the woman was unharmed.
Andrew Adrien Earl (Andy) Moffitt, M.B. (Posthumous), Ottawa, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On December 23, 1998, 23-year-old university student Andy
Moffitt was killed while trying to help a friend who was being attacked
by a man in Ottawa, Ontario. Mr. Moffitt was celebrating the end of
exams with friends at a local restaurant-bar when he heard a commotion
caused by the aggressor who was assaulting one man upstairs. As the
assailant ran downstairs in an attempt to avoid the arrival of the
police, the restaurant owner and some patrons, including one of Mr.
Moffitt's friends, tried to detain him. When he saw the violent man
strike his friend, Mr. Moffitt did not hesitate to rush to his rescue.
Helped by others, he tried to subdue the out-of-control individual but,
in the brawl that ensued, Mr. Moffitt was stabbed by the aggressor and,
sadly, died on his way to hospital.
Paul Herman Morin, M.B., Auclair, Québec
Medal of Bravery
On June 15, 2001, Paul Morin rescued a severely injured
man following a collision between two boats at a ferry crossing on
Rivière des Prairies, in Laval-sur-le-Lac, Quebec. Mr. Morin was
boating nearby when he witnessed the crash. Although fearing for his
own life because of his restricted physical mobility, he jumped in the
fast current and reached the victim in a dog-paddle swim. Despite
weakening strength and hampered by his life jacket, Mr. Morin pulled
the man to his own boat and attempted to push him onboard, with his
wife and friend pulling from inside. Although his efforts failed, he
managed to grab a rope and hold the man's head above water until
someone arrived on a Sea-Doo and dragged both men to the riverbank,
some 30 metres away. The victim recovered but, sadly, his brother was
killed on impact during this tragic accident.
Master Corporal Steeve Joseph Perron, M.B., C.D., St-Amable, Quebec
Medal of Bravery
On December 27, 2001, MCpl Steeve Perron, then Corporal,
rescued a teenager and his ten-year-old cousin who had fallen through
the ice on the Rivière-aux-Sables in Jonquière, Quebec.
MCpl Perron was driving by when he saw the boys walk onto the
dangerously thin surface. As he stopped to warn them of the risks, the
fragile layer broke under their weight and both boys disappeared in the
water several times before managing to cling onto the edge of the hole.
MCpl Perron grabbed a rope from his car and, shouting for help,
made his way onto the precariously thin surface. He inched his way to
some two metres of the opening and, while the ice cracked all around
him, threw the rope to the struggling victims and managed to keep them
from slipping under until police arrived to complete the rescue.
Pearl Audrey Shaw, M.B. (Posthumous), Hanmer, Ontario
Medal of Bravery
On April 22, 2001, seventy-five-year-old Pearl Shaw lost
her life while attempting to save the two great-grandchildren she was
babysitting, aged three and four, from their burning house in Hanmer,
Ontario. When the fire broke out in the basement, Pearl Shaw was seen
by neighbours momentarily exiting the front door of the blazing
dwelling, shouting that the children were trapped inside. As others
raced to the scene, she dashed back in to try to save the little boy
and his sister but the rapidly spreading flames transformed the
dwelling into an inferno, foiling any other rescue efforts. Sadly, all
three perished in the fire.
Albert Shedrick, M.B., Ville St-Pierre, Quebec
Medal of Bravery
On December 21, 2000, Albert Shedrick saved a
three-year-old girl and her two-month-old brother from a fiery death in
Ville St-Pierre, Quebec. Mr. Shedrick was babysitting his neighbour's
two children when he saw flames shooting out of a bedroom door. Slowed
down by his wheelchair, he dropped to the floor and crawled to the
little girl, standing near the flames. He then grabbed the infant in
his cradle-seat and inched his way toward the building's front porch,
some ten meters away, while shouting for help and guiding the little
girl toward the exit. Exhausted and suffering from severe burns and
smoke inhalation, Mr. Shedrick collapsed as he reached the entrance
hall, and he and the baby were rescued by another man.
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