Heroic Firefighters and Police Officers Receive Top Honours
Ontario Hands Out Medals For Bravery
Seven firefighters and seven police officers will receive Ontario’s top honours for bravery yesterday, November 18th, at a Queen’s Park ceremony.
The Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery and the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are the province’s highest honour in recognition of firefighters and police officers whose actions demonstrate outstanding courage.
One medal will be presented to the family of Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) Constable Vu Pham. Provincial Constable Pham was killed while on duty on March 8, 2010.
The recipients of the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery are:
- Acting Captain Chris Martin of the Burlington Fire Department
- Firefighter George Cassady of the Burlington Fire Department
- Firefighter Bruce Cole of the Burlington Fire Department
- Firefighter Blair Fedyszyn of the Burlington Fire Department
- Firefighter Joel Kirschner of the Burlington Fire Department
- Firefighter Jason Bavelaar of the Wasaga Beach Fire Department
- Firefighter Reno Levesque of the Wasaga Beach Fire Department
The recipients of the Ontario Medal for Police Bravery are:
- Constable Mansoor Ahmad of the Toronto Police Service
- Constable Troy Lorimer of the Toronto Police Service
- Provincial Constable Dell Mercy of the OPP Huron Detachment
- Provincial Constable Vu Pham (posthumous) of the OPP Huron Detachment
- Sergeant John Potts of the OPP Kirkland Lake Detachment
- Provincial Constable Michelle Potts of the OPP Kirkland Lake Detachment
- Constable Daryl Whitten of the Peterborough Lakefield Community Police Services
QUICK FACTS
- A total 191 Ontario Medals for Firefighter Bravery have been awarded since 1976.
- A total 219 Ontario Medals for Police Bravery have been awarded since 1975.
- An independent body of citizens from the firefighting and policing communities, representing all regions of Ontario determines medal recipients.
