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On April 12, 2009, Surete du Quebec Constable Jerome Labonte rescued a suicidal woman from the Saint-Maurice River, in Shawinigan, Quebec. Responding to a call about a woman threatening to jump from a bridge, Constable Labonte arrived just as the woman plunged into the river below. The victim could not reach the ropes that were thrown to her, so Constable Labonte tied a rope around his own waist and swam out to reach her. He struggled in the strong current to bring her closer to shore, where others helped bring her to safety.
Daniel Gordon Livingston, M.B. Courtenay, British Columbia
On April 2, 2010, Daniel Livingston risked his life to rescue an injured man from a burning SUV, near Courtenay, British Columbia. The driver had lost control of his car during a heavy rainfall, causing it to flip over and catch on fire. One of the occupants was ejected while the other was trapped in the wreck. From a nearby house, Mr. Livingston heard the accident and rushed out to help. He crawled inside and cut the victim's seatbelt, but had to pull back from the intense heat and smoke. Determined to save the victim, Mr. Livingston used tremendous effort to pull the man out and bring him to safety. Sadly, the man who was ejected from the car did not survive.
Laura Elizabeth MacDonald, M.B. Ottawa, Ontario
On March 20, 2010, Laura MacDonald rescued a suicidal woman from Lake Ontario, in Kingston, Ontario. Ms. MacDonald had been walking with friends along the waterfront when they heard a woman's cries for help. They threw her a life ring and managed to pull her closer to shore, but could not get her onto the pier. Without any thought for her own safety, Ms. MacDonald jumped into the cold water and struggled to push the victim up to where her friends could grab her and pull her out. An ambulance brought the victim to the hospital, where she recovered.
Eric Michael McAdam Manget, M.B. Toronto, Ontario
On September 1, 2010, 15-year-old Eric Manget rescued his mother and his younger brother from a possible drowning, in Hilton Head, South Carolina, U.S.A. Eric was on the beach when he heard someone yelling for help and realized that his mother and brother were in trouble, a good distance away from the shore. He ran into the water and battled high waves and a strong undertow to reach them. Eric grabbed his brother and gave him a strong push towards the beach. This enabled the younger boy to break free of the cross-currents and make it to shore on his own. Eric then struggled against the outgoing tide to push his mother to shallow waters; all made it back to the beach safely.
Constable Randal Douglas Metzler, M.B. Selkirk and Winnipeg, Manitoba
On July 29, 2009, RCMP Constable Randal Metzler entered a burning house to try to rescue a disabled woman, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. Responding to a 911 call, Constable Metzler arrived at the house before the fire department. A bystander advised him that a bedridden woman was trapped inside. He ran in and located the woman in her bedroom. Unfortunately, he had inhaled high levels of smoke and could not lift her. Constable Metzler felt light-headed and had to run outside to get some air. Fire services arrived and were able to bring the victim safely outside.
Paris Nicolaides, M.B. Markham, Toronto and Sioux Lookout, Ontario Constable Jason Spooner, M.B. Sudbury and Sioux Lookout, Ontario
