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Steve Flynn of Blackcomb Helicopters wins Medal of Bravery

Steve Flynn

Jan. 17, 2008, Ottawa – Steven Flynn of Blackcomb Helicopters will receive the prestigious  Govenor General's Medal of Bravery.

On March 5, 2005, helicopter pilot Steven Flynn, search and rescue
technician Vincent Massey and mountain rescuer Paul Skelton teamed up
to rescue a stranded ice sailor who had broken through the ice on Green
Lake, in Whistler, British Columbia.

As he drove past the scene,  Mr.
Flynn soon realized that responding emergency personnel needed
assistance and that a helicopter rescue was needed. He rushed to a
nearby heliport where he met with Paul Skelton and Vincent Massey. All three
boarded a helicopter and, within minutes, they flew to the scene.
While Mr. Flynn performed a precision hover, allowing the craft to get
close to the ice, Messrs. Skelton and Massey reached for the
hypothermic victim and pulled him safely into the helicopter.

The recipients will be invited to receive their decorations at
a ceremony to be held at Rideau Hall at a later date.

DECORATIONS FOR BRAVERY
BACKGROUND
Decorations for Bravery recognize people who risked their lives to
try to rescue or protect another. These decorations were created by Her
Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 1972. The Governor General personally
presents the decorations in ceremonies held at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa,
or at La Citadelle, in Quebec City. They consist of the Cross of
Valour, the Star of Courage and the Medal of Bravery.

The Cross of Valour is awarded for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril.

The Star of Courage is awarded for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril.

The Medal of Bravery is awarded for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.

ELIGIBILITY
Anyone is free to propose the name of a person who has risked injury
or death in an attempt to rescue another person. The incident need not
have taken place in Canada, and the rescuer need not be Canadian, but
Canadians or Canadian interests must be involved. The decorations may
be awarded posthumously.

Nominations must be made within two years of the incident, or within
two years after a public entity, including a court, a quasi-judicial
tribunal or a coroner, have concluded its review on the circumstances
surrounding the incident or act of bravery.

For more information on the Decorations for Bravery and on the recipients of these awards, please visit http://www.gg.ca/honours/decorations/bra/index_e.asp