NLIS 3
October 9, 2001
(Executive Council)

 

Provincial bravery awards presented

Today in St. John�s, Premier Roger Grimes and Lieutenant-Governor A. M. House presented the Newfoundland and Labrador Award for Bravery, in a special ceremony at Government House. The Bravery Award recognizes Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who have risked their lives to save, protect or render assistance to another human being.

"Acts of bravery such as those recognized and celebrated today," remarked Dr. House, "reflect the inherent good in individuals and the great impact that selfless and timely action can have on the lives of individuals in their communities."

As the ceremony concluded, Premier Roger Grimes expressed the province�s pride in the recipients: "These individuals are heroes," said the premier. "They embody the spirit of our great province and of the people of Newfoundland and Labrador. They inspire each and every one of us with their courage and their selflessness. I�m proud to have been there to honour them."

Justin Boyd knowingly risked his life to rescue Dameon Saunders, who had fallen through the ice at Main Brook Harbour. Justin, 13 years old at the time of the incident, made his way across the weak ice to pull Dameon, then seven, out of the water. When the ice collapsed under both, Justin pushed Dameon onto safer ice, climbed out of the water and pulled the younger boy ashore.

Dr. Jean Burnell crawled through smoke and flames in a campus Memorial University Chemistry lab to reach a graduate student, Pei-Ying Liu, whose experiment had exploded. Dr. Burnell extinguished the fire in Ms. Liu�s hair and clothes and pulled her to safety. While Ms. Liu�s colleagues took her for medical aid, Burnell returned to the lab to put out the blaze.

Christopher Hindy displayed remarkable courage and presence of mind in saving the life of a swimming companion, Sheldon Wells. Christopher, then 12 years old, battled his own exhaustion and his friend�s panic reactions to bring Sheldon, 15, safely to shore on the second attempt.

George Pastitshi gave his life to help his brother Geoffrey reach safety. While searching for their father Sebastian Pastitshi, who was late returning from a fishing trip, George, Geoffrey and their companion Matthew Rich crashed through weak ice off Sandy Point. Though sadly unable to save Matthew Rich, George Pastitshi used his sweater, scarf and jacket to make a rope, with which he rescued his brother three times as they made their way to land over deteriorating ice. Cold and exhausted, without protective clothing, George Pastitshi died before reaching the safety of the cabin where his brother was located some 30 hours later, suffering from severe frostbite and hypothermia.

Media contact: Carl Cooper, Office of the Premier (709) 729-3564
                       Deirdre Robinson Greene, Executive Council (709) 729-0084.

 

Backgrounder

The Newfoundland and Labrador Bravery Award was established in 1984 under the authority of the Bravery Award Act, to recognize citizens of the province who have risked their lives and safety to render aid to another person. Since its inception, the award has been presented to six people. No frequency has been specified for presentation of the award, nor are nominations solicited.

The award itself is an engraved medal designed by Ian Stewart - a former resident of our province and an internationally recognized designer of such awards. The medal is square in shape and is cast in bronze. It is decorated on the obverse side with a circular rim enclosing a stylized rescue at sea, symbolic of the courageous heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador. On the reverse side is the inscription "Newfoundland and Labrador FOR BRAVERY", with the recipient�s name and the date on which the award was presented.

The act establishes a review panel to accept and consider, on an individual basis, nominations of persons eligible to receive the award. Nominations for the Bravery Award are accepted from the general public and community organizations.

The review panel comprises the Chief Justice of Newfoundland (currently Hon. Clyde Wells), the President of Memorial University (currently Dr. Axel Miesen), the Chief Superintendent of the RCMP (currently Assistant Commissioner Larry G. Warren), the Chief of the R.N.C. (currently Chief Richard Deering), the Private Secretary to the Lieutenant-Governor (currently Wayne Mitchell) and the Clerk of the Executive Council (currently Deborah Fry). The review panel recommends to the Lieutenant-Governor in Council those eligible to be honoured.

Anyone wishing to nominate another person to receive this honour may forward the nomination and appropriate information about the act of bravery to:

Review Panel
Newfoundland and Labrador Bravery Award
Cabinet Secretariat
Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
P.O. Box 8700
St. John�s, NF, A1B 4J6

2001 10 09                               3:00 p.m.


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