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Nearly three-dozen London firefighters have received one of the highest provincial honours in their field – the Ontario Medal for Firefighter Bravery – in recognition of their efforts after a partial building collapse in December 2020.
London Fire Department officials say the 35 medals were doled out at a Queen’s Park ceremony on Monday evening with Ontario’s lieutenant governor, Edith Dumont, presenting them.
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It was Dec. 11, 2020, when the partial collapse occurred at an under-construction apartment building at 555 Teeple Terrace, located along Wonderland Road. Two workers were killed – Henry Harder and John Martens.
During rescue efforts, fire officials note London firefighters were working underneath unsupported concrete for hours to successfully rescue those who were trapped in the rubble.
Mayor Josh Morgan said in a statement the city is “beyond proud to celebrate the extraordinary courage and selflessness of our London firefighters, who risked their lives in the line of duty.”
London’s fire chief, Lori Hamer, echoed the mayor’s sentiments in a statement, saying the 35 firefighters are “most deserving of the prestigious Medal of Bravery.” The firefighters who were honoured at Monday night’s event are:
Mark Archibald, Patrick Bradley, John D. Campbell, Jason Allen Carter, Eric Conway, Erik Elmauer, Adam Froats, Kevin Funston, Randy Geene, Scott Givlin, Todd Groves, Ian Guy, Connor Hanenburg, Christopher Hare, Jason Patrick Kennedy, James King, Mitchell Knight, Peter Lapkowski, Marc Leveille, Joseph Livingstone, Jason Lundy, Derrick G. Martin, Jeff Montgomery, Cole Nicholson, Steven Prior, Parmbir Rai, Michael W. Reed, Brandon Rhea, Justin Salt, Michael Sophocleous, Bradly Stallman, Pat Stephenson, Mitchell Thomas and Scott Turkheim.
Also honoured for their efforts at the Teeple Terrace collapse were Blair Corsaut, John Dance and Brent Thomas of the London police.
The Medal of Bravery was created in 1976 to recognize acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
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