Manitoba heroes honoured in Ottawa today

October 22, 2010

Friday, October 22, 2010 - Three Manitobans are among the 53 Canadians who will receive decorations for bravery from Governor General David Johnston this morning in Ottawa.

The ceremony, which takes place at Rideau Hall, will include the presentation of three Star of Courage awards and 50 Medal of Bravery citations.

Jimmy Victor Beardy and Paul Linklater of Thompson are being awarded Medals of Bravery for their role in helping to rescue a family of five from a burning house in December, 2004. Linklater arrived at the scene first, kicked down a door and crawled through the smoke-filled house in search of its residents. After being forced outside to get air, he was joined by Beardy and the pair ran back into the blaze, shouting loudly to awaken the sleeping residents. They located two children and rushed them outside; two other residents heard their shouts and escaped on their own, and another child was rescued by firefighters who had arrived at the scene.

Deborah Anne Chiborak of Winnipeg will receive a Medal of Bravery for her efforts to rescue 89-year-old Winifred Lindsay, whose motorized scooter tipped over on a railway crossing at Waverley Street and Taylor Avenue in April 2007. Seeing the peril Lindsay faced from an oncoming train, Chiborak helped to lift the scooter and carry the woman to safety. Lindsay was unharmed, but Chiborak suffered a back injury during the rescue.
Winnipeg Transit driver Gerard Beernaerts, who also took part in the rescue, received a Medal of Bravery last February from then-Governor-General Michaëlle Jean.

The Governor General’s Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972 to recognize people who risked their lives to save or protect the lives of others. There are three designations: the Cross of Valour, which recognizes acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril, the Star of Courage, which recognizes acts of courage in circumstances of great peril, and the Medal of Bravery, which recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
Source:    Winnipeg Free Press Online Edition