The Decorations
for Bravery were established as part of the Canadian Honours
System in 1972.
The Medal of Bravery is awarded
"for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances".
On July 12, 1996, 11-year-old Tommy Coulombe rescued his mother from their burning house in Clarendon, New Brunswick. After helping his sick mother into bed, Tommy went to his bedroom to play and closed the door behind him so as not to disturb her sleep. Minutes later he was alerted by the smoke alarm and opened the door to a wall of thick black smoke. Tommy raced to his mother's bedroom and tried desperately to wake her. With complete disregard for his own safety, he persisted until she awoke from her medicated sleep, dazed and coughing heavily from the toxic smoke. Tommy helped her out of bed and, using fire safety skills learned in school, made her crouch beneath the smoke. He then guided her through the darkened hallway and out to safety moments before the entire house was engulfed in flames. Both were taken to a hospital and treated for smoke inhalation.