FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCTOBER 31ST, 2016
I am very proud of two Labradorians that were honoured on October 28th for their selfless acts of bravery. The Governor General presented the two with Decorations of Bravery on Friday.
Decorations for Bravery recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect another. The Decorations were created by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. The governor general personally presents the Decorations in ceremonies held at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa, or at La Citadelle, in Québec City. They consist of the Cross of Valour, the Star of Courage and the Medal of Bravery.
Constable Curtis Barrett was awarded the Star of Courage, which recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. On October 22, 2014, members of the House of Commons Security Services and the RCMP were instrumental in stopping an armed man who had stormed the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario. Supported by 12 of their colleagues, Sergeant Rozon, Corporal Daigle and Constables Barrett and Fraser assumed a tactical formation as they charged down the Hall of Honour. With the shooter now cornered in an alcove leading to the Library, Sergeant-at-Arms Vickers, after being advised of the shooter’s location, dove to the floor in front of him and fired his weapon. RCMP Constable Barrett walked directly toward the gunman while also firing his weapon. The collective actions of these 16 individuals brought the incident to an end in less than three minutes, and avoided further tragedy.
Ronald James Anderson of Nain was awarded the Medal of Bravery for rescuing two snowmobilers that fell through the ice in 2015. On May 6, 2015, James Andersen rescued two people whose snowmobile had plunged through the ice near Nain Bay, Nunatsiavut. Witnessing the skidoo sink ahead of him, Mr. Andersen used a sled attached to his snowmobile to get closer to the edge of the hole. He grabbed the first victim by her jacket and threw a rope for the second victim to pull himself out. Mr. Andersen then brought the victims back to shore on his snowmobile to care for them.
I am always proud to be a Labradorian, we have a strong sense of community and know the inherent dangers of life in Labrador. We know there is often a fine line between life and death, and our collective connections to each other breeds a sense of duty, honour, and respect to each other and the land. Once in a while, trouble befalls one of our community, and as these two brave men have shown, Labradorians rise to the occasion to help one another despite the risks to themselves.
Thank you Constable Barrett and Jim Anderson for standing up when duty called, and bringing what could have been a worse tragedy to a resolution. Labrador thanks you, and we are proud of you.
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Media for Yvonne Jones:
Brandon Pardy
Legislative/communications
Yvonne Jones
613-222-1735
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Yjones.liberal.ca
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