(Office of the Governor General/Rideau Hall)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

selflessness, instinct and courage

Two central Albertans among Canadians honoured for their bravery

Oct 25, 2024 | 9:53 AM

Decorations for Bravery were awarded to deserving Canadians by Governor General Mary Simon on Thursday at Rideau Hall in Ottawa.

The awards were established in 1972 to recognize courageous acts, with over 4,000 people awarded since.

“Selflessness, instinct and courage were common threads connecting the unique stories of bravery told today at Rideau Hall,” Simon’s office said on its official Facebook page.

“Bravery often comes at a high cost. These ceremonies are opportunities to reflect not only on the lives saved but also on the lives changed and the lives lost.”

Among recipients were two central Albertans — Corporal Brandon Tobin of Drayton Valley and Corporal Guy Johnson of Red Deer.

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For Tobin, the award for him and four colleagues — Cpl. Jeffrey Czarnecki of Ottawa, Cst. Mark Facendi of Spruce Grove, Sgt. Brian Topham of Darwell, Alberta, and Cst. Norman Wong of Chilliwack — is related to an incident that happened in March 2018.

According to the office of the governor general:

On March 29, 2018, RCMP officers in Evansburg, Alberta, spotted a suspect’s vehicle and began a pursuit. The suspect got out and fired on the officers with a high-powered rifle. Sergeant Topham fired back but was shot and rendered unconscious. The team provided covering fire while Constable Czarnecki approached Sergeant Topham. Still under fire, Constable Wong retrieved a first aid kit, while Corporal Tobin and Constable Facendi apprehended the shooter.

It was in December 2011 when Cpl. Johnson was with Cpl. Peter King of Grande Prairie and Cst. Ronald Lyver of Summerland during an active shooter situation.

Per Rideau Hall: On December 3, 2011, in Breton, Alberta, corporals Peter King and Guy Johnson, and Constable Ron Lyver, saved a colleague who was shot on duty. Responding to an active shooter situation, Corporal Johnson provided cover as Corporal King and Constable Lyver ran to assist the victim, with Corporal King getting shot twice in the process. Constable Lyver returned fire, allowing them to move their colleague to safety.

Rideau Hall noted that Cpl. Tobin was unable to attend the ceremony and will receive his insignia at a later date, while Cpl. Johnson received his medal in April 2022.

A full list of recipients is at gg.ca.