Local RCMP officer honoured for bravery

Const. Sidney Gaudette stationed in Lethbridge

An act of bravery in central Alberta has resulted in a bravery award for an RCMP member now stationed in Lethbridge.

Const. Sidney Gaudette was honoured Tuesday in Ottawa during a ceremony at Rideau Hall. Governor General Julie Payette presented him with a Medal for Bravery for his quick response to a 2012 incident near Sedgewick, west of Wainwright.

Along with two other police officers, Gaudette came under fire while executing a search warrant at a farmhouse near Sedgewick. After Gaudette was shot, another officer provided cover for the injured officer while the gunfire continued.

Later, despite his injuries, Gaudette was able to provide cover for a third officer before the situation was resolved, and the wounded officers were taken to safety — and then to hospital.

Also recognized for their roles in the standoff were Const. Sheldon Shah, now stationed in Ontario, and Sgt. Gregory Gerbrandt, now at Lac du Bonnet, Man.

Several more Alberta civilians and peace officers were also recognized during the annual presentations ceremony.

Jessica Dicks of Perryvale, near Athabasca, was permanently paralyzed in 2016 after running to prevent a falling tree from striking a tent where children were sleeping in an Alberta campsite. The children escaped injury, and she was presented an award for bravery.

A bravery award was also presented to Riza Kasikcioglu, an Edmonton resident who rushed up the stairs of a burning high-rise apartment building to warn residents to leave. He was eventually overcome by smoke, but helped to safety by firefighters.

In Waterton Lakes National Park, off-duty RCMP officer Evan Taylor rescued two boys from drowning when their canoe capsized in 2015. The officer, stationed at Fort McMurray, swam 250 metres to bring the first boy to shore, then went back to retrieve the second boy.

Also accepting a bravery medal was Justin Yaassoub, a corporal with the Canadian Forces who risked his life to save an injured soldier in northern Iraq.

And a Meritorious Service medal was also presented Tuesday to another Alberta man, who’s best known for warning Canadians about the dangers of smoking tobacco. Under the leadership of Les Hagen, the Action on Smoking and Health organization has been researching and developing strategies to help Canadians “butt out” and discourage young people from falling prey to the habit.

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