Anne Michelle Curtis, posthumous, Lingan, Nova Scotia

In the late afternoon of August 2, 2015, Ms. Anne Curtis was enjoying time with family and friends at MacLeod’s Campground Beach in Inverness, Cape Breton. That afternoon changed in a split second when three of the children began hollering for help as a rip tide pulled them out to sea. Ms. Curtis was the first parent in the water and first to reach the children. She was able to get two of the children, ages 9 and 12, back to safety but the third child, age 14, was still in danger. As the riptide began to increase in strength, Ms. Curtis swam back in to rescue the remaining child. She was able to reach him and bring him to a place where he could reach other adults and make his way to shore. Out of immediate danger and on her way back to shore, Ms. Curtis began to struggle. Those on the shore were able to reach Ms. Curtis and assist her out of the water – she collapsed on shore and tragically was not able to be resuscitated. In light of Ms. Curtis’s quick and selfless actions, three children were saved from drowning.

---

Nicole Louise Foran, Eastern Passage, Nova Scotia

On April 9, 2009, Ms. Nicole Foran was a Flight Attendant on Can Jet flight 918 from Halifax to Montego Bay, Jamaica. The flight had landed in Jamaica and some passengers were about to disembark while others were about to board before continuing on to Cuba. Then the unthinkable happened. An armed gunman broke through security and boarded the plane, holding 159 passengers and crew members hostage. Ms. Foran and a colleague were able to negotiate with the gunman to free the passengers in exchange for valuables. With the passengers safely unloaded, the hijacking continued with the crew members held hostage and continuously threatened at gun point. After eight hours, Ms. Foran distracted and disarmed the gunman at the exact time authorities entered the plane. The crew members were released to safety and the hijacker apprehended. Ms. Foran’s courage and bravery did not end that day - she was the sole crew member to voluntarily return to Jamaica to testify in court, resulting in a conviction against the hijacker. Ms. Foran’s courageous actions saved innocent passengers and fellow crew members from a potentially fatal hijacking and also helped ensure justice was served.

Jeremiah (Jerry) Spargo, Halifax, Nova Scotia

On the afternoon of January 13, 2016, Mr. Jerry Spargo was headed outside to shovel his driveway when he noticed flames in the front window of his neighbour’s home. Without hesitation, 84-year-old Mr. Spargo hollered to his wife to call 911 and headed across the street to help. Knowing his neighbor suffered from multiple sclerosis and was unable to walk, Mr. Spargo entered the burning home. He saw his neighbor, Ms. Mary Jayne Tilley, lying on the floor with her clothes on fire. Mr. Spargo heroically pulled Ms. Tilley out of the intense heat, smoke, and flames before first responders arrived. Mr. Spargo’s fast thinking and quick actions saved his neigbour’s life that day.