Governor General to Present Decorations for Bravery to Those who Responded to the October 22, 2014, Events

OTTAWA, Feb. 4, 2016 /CNW/ - His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, will present 6 Stars of Courage and 9 Medals of Bravery during a ceremony at Rideau Hall, on Monday, February 8, 2016, at 11 a.m. This ceremony will pay tribute to the bravery of security services members who responded to the tragic events of October 22, 2014 on Parliament Hill.

Created in 1972, Decorations for Bravery recognize people who risked their lives to try to save or protect the lives of others. The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril; the Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril; and the Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

A schedule for the presentation ceremony, a list of recipients and their citation, and a fact sheet on the Decorations for Bravery are enclosed.

Media accredited with the Parliamentary Press Gallery must confirm their attendance in advance with the Rideau Hall Press Office, and should arrive at the Princess Anne Entrance no later than 10:45 a.m. on the day of the ceremony. For more information on accreditation, please contact the
Parliamentary Press Gallery at 613-992-6517 or pressres2@parl.gc.ca.

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RECIPIENTS AND CITATION

RCMP Constable Curtis Barrett, S.C.
Chelsea, Quebec
RCMP Constable Michelle Bergeron, M.B.
Ottawa, Ontario
RCMP Constable Gary Bubelis, M.B.
Spencerville, Ontario
RCMP Constable Somoza Célestin, M.B.
Ottawa, Ontario
RCMP Corporal Dany Daigle, S.C.
Ottawa, Ontario
RCMP Constable Martin Fraser, S.C.
Gatineau, Quebec
Constable Louis Létourneau, S.C.
Gatineau, Quebec
Corporal Maxim Malo, M.B.
Gatineau, Quebec
RCMP Constable Sylvie Marcoux, M.B.
Embrun, Ontario
RCMP Constable Michel Palmer, M.B.
Rockland, Ontario
RCMP Sergeant Richard Rozon, S.C.
Gatineau, Quebec
RCMP Constable Patrick Ruest, M.B.
Embrun, Ontario
Constable Samearn Son, S.C.
Ottawa, Ontario
Constable Charles Thom, M.B.
Ottawa, Ontario
Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers, O.N.B., S.C.
Miramichi, New Brunswick and Dublin, Ireland
RCMP Constable Herbert Waye, M.B.
Oxford Mills, Ontario

On October 22, 2014, members of the House of Commons protection services and the RCMP were instrumental in stopping an armed man who had stormed the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario. Constable Son was stationed at the front entrance when he spotted the man entering with a concealed rifle. The constable lunged to gain control of the firearm, but it discharged and struck him in the leg. Drawn to the Rotunda by the noise, Corporal Malo and Constable Thom took cover and exchanged several rounds with the gunman after he entered the building. Constable Létourneau tracked the gunman down the Hall of Honour toward the Library of Parliament and fired at him several times. RCMP Sergeant Rozon, Corporal Daigle and constables Barrett, Bergeron, Bubelis, Célestin, Fraser, Marcoux, Palmer, Ruest and Waye, who had assembled outside the Peace Tower, entered the Centre Block. Supported by their colleagues, Sergeant Rozon, Corporal Daigle and constables Barrett and Fraser assumed a tactical formation (IARD) 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.

The Star of Courage awarded to Constable Barrett will be presented to him at a future ceremony.

FACT SHEET ON THE DECORATIONS FOR BRAVERY

BACKGROUND

The Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972. They recognize people who risk their lives and choose to defy their own instinct of survival to try to save a loved one or a perfect stranger whose life is in immediate danger.

The three levels of the Decorations for Bravery reflect the degree to which the recipients put themselves at risk:

The Cross of Valour (C.V.) recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.
The Star of Courage (S.C.) recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril.
The Medal of Bravery (M.B.) recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

ELIGIBILITY AND NOMINATION

Anyone is free to propose the name of a person who has risked injury or death in an attempt to rescue another person. The incident need not have taken place in Canada, and the rescuer need not be Canadian, but Canadians or Canadian interests must be involved. The decorations may be awarded posthumously.

Nominations must be made within two years of the incident, or within two years after a public entity, including a court, a quasi-judicial tribunal or a coroner, has concluded its review of the circumstances surrounding the incident or act of bravery.

For more information on the Decorations for Bravery, please visit www.gg.ca/honours.

SOURCE Governor General of Canada

For further information: Media information: Marie-Pierre Bélanger, Rideau Hall Press Office, 613-998-9166, marie-pierre.belanger@gg.ca