The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Six men and women risked their own safety last year to help elderly residents escape the flaming inferno that was the Hemlock Drive seniors apartments. On Tuesday at City Hall, the courageous citizens Ñ Tom Davie, Jim Fleuty, Bob Gummerson, Mike Harvie, Andy Jedele and Brenda Russell Ñ were recognized for their actions with Governor-General Certificates of Commendation. "These acts of bravery are not common at all," said Mayor Dennis Ballard, who presented the certificates on Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson's behalf. "Regardless of what they want to tell you, that's heroism." The recipients accepted their certificates to hearty rounds of applause from the crowd of friends and family members on hand. The mayor also gave each recipient a special certificate from the City of Flin Flon and one of the new Flin Flon coins. Mayor Ballard credited the men and women Ñ each of whom entered the flaming building at some point during the blaze of June 6, 2002 Ñ with likely saving the lives of the seniors they helped escape. "...had that not happened, the chances are we could very well have lost some lives," he told the crowd. "I don't think that's an exaggeration at all." Information from Gov. Gen. Clarkson states that the Certificates of Commendation are to be "issued to those who have made a significant contribution by providing assistance to another person in a selfless manner." Recipients of the prestigious certificates are selected by the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee. The "heroes of Hemlock," as one crowd member called them on Tuesday, previously received honourary certificates from the Office of the Fire Commissioner.
