Man who stopped Banff wolf attack awarded the Medal of Bravery
Two Calgarians are being recognized by the country’s Governor General for their acts of bravery in saving others.
Gov. Gen. Julie Payette released a list of 123 Canadians being recognized for their skills, courage or dedication to service in celebration of Canada Day on Wednesday.
Calgarian Russell Fee is among the recipients of the Medal of Bravery for his actions during a camping trip with his family at Rampart Creek campground in Banff National Park.
As he was sleeping in a tent on the night of Aug. 9, 2019, Fee was awoken by cries for help from a family who had set up camp nearby.
“It sounded to me like maybe they had lost one of their kids, that’s what I thought coming out of sleep,” Fee said in an interview Wednesday.
He scrambled to put on shoes, his wife handed him a lantern and he ran to the neighbouring site.
“That’s when I noticed there was half a wolf sticking out of their tent — it was in the tent. I had a run going so I kept running and kicked it in the back end. It stumbled out, more curious than anything because I think I startled it.”
The family’s father, Matthew Rispoli, had been fending off the wolf when it tore through their tent. He was bitten, scratched and injured. The two men frightened off the wolf long enough for all of them to run to Fee’s vehicle. He drove them to get medical attention.
The family of four had been visiting Banff from New Jersey and told their story publicly on social media. Fee has kept in touch with the Rispolis. They wished him “Happy Canada Day” early Wednesday.
Fee downplayed the honour for his actions.
“It’s never felt right to call it brave because I didn’t know what I was getting into. I was just going to help some people and didn’t realize the severity of the situation,” he said.
Calgarian Kim Cossette is being recognized with a Medal of Honour for her actions in preventing the kidnapping of a child.
She was driving on Memorial Drive, her friend Chevy Wilson a few cars behind her, when she saw a woman trying to rip a child from her mother’s arms on Sept. 26, 2018.
Both women rushed to the aid of the mother and her three-year-old, fending off the attacker and calling police.
“Apart from being assaulted viciously myself, I was happy to see this innocent little girl safe and the woman caught,” Cossette said before receiving an Award of Exceptional Recognition for Valour at the Chief ’s Awards Gala in June 2019.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony for this year’s honours has been postponed. Six other Calgarians will receive the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers.