The strong and the brave
Eight recognized with Governor General award for role in 2011 plane crash rescue
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Published Friday, October 24, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Eight individuals, including five Yellowknifers, were given the Medal of Bravery on Tuesday in Ottawa in recognition of their role following a plane crash in Old Town three years ago.
The medal recognizes brave acts in hazardous circumstances.
Yellowknifers Kent Bissell, Roderick Brown, Matthew Grogono, Mike Murphy and Allan Shortt received the medal at Rideau Hall.
In total, Gov. Gen. David Johnston handed out eight medals to those who played a "vital role in the evacuation of several passengers" from a floatplane that crashed on Sept. 22, 2011.
Sergio Sanchez of Alberta, Gregory Van Langenhove of Saskatchewan and American David Swisher were also recognized.
Pilot Trevor Jonasson and first officer Nicole Stacey died and seven passengers were injured in the crash.
"Without any thought for their own safety, the rescuers entered the aircraft and provided assistance to the victims," stated a news release about the award recipients. "Despite the heavy smoke coming from the engine, the leaking fuel, and the risk of explosion, they managed to bring the victims to safety."
Grogono works at Old Town Glassworks, close to where
the crash happened. The event in Ottawa was the first time since that September day he talked about what happened to the group of people who also arrived at the scene early on.
He said talking with the others and going to Ottawa helped him process the tragedy.
"That was key thing for me," Grogono said, adding that there will never be full closure.
"It gave me a chance to understand some of the complexities of what went on," he said in an interview Wednesday from Calgary on his way back to Yellowknife.
"We were fortunate that no one else got hurt," said Grogono.
While he wasn't able to talk to the Governor General, he said the "elegant" ceremony was humbling.
Attempts to reach the other four Yellowknife recipients were not successful by press time. Those who helped after the plane crash were among 45 Medal of Bravery recipients.
The RCMP nominated the recipients. Nominations can take up to two years to be processed Marie-Pierre Belanger, a media relations officer with the Office of the Secretary to the Governor General, previously told Yellowknifer.
About 200 nominations are received per year, with about 120 to 135 people receiving a bravery commendation.
