The dedicated service and quick response of RCMP personnel was recognized Wednesday afternoon at Chapel Gallery by the province’s Lieutenant Governor.
The Hon. Vaughn Solomon Schofield was in North Battleford to present the RCMP awards. Several RCMP and civilian members were recognized with long-service awards, while five RCMP members were presented with St. John’s Life-Saving Awards for their actions in life-threatening situations.
The life-savings awards went to the following recipients:
Cst. Mary Chuey (retired): Chuey was dispatched to a suspected suicide attempt in the vicinity of Turtleford. After one last search of the area, the subject was found hanging from a tree. Chuey discovered the victim had a pulse, quickly took down the rope and removed it from the subject’s head. The victim was sent to hospital and released the next day. For her actions in saving the man’s life, Chuey received the St. John’s Award of Merit.
Cst. Colson Langley and Cst. Justin Donaldson: The two came to the aid of an RCMP officer who had been struck by a vehicle. Their rapid response and use of first-aid techniques were credited by the RCMP with preventing the loss of life of one of their officers, and they were both presented with the St. John’s Life-Saving Award.
Cst. Maria Pikus: March 6, 2013 in Swift Current, used her first aid skills in applying CPR to save the life of a coffee shop patron who had stopped breathing and was unconscious. She was presented with the St. John’s Life Saving Award.
Cst. Cory Winslow: On Oct. 2, 2013, near Kinley, Winslow used his first-aid skills to save the life of an unconscious baby. He determined quickly that the baby had a pulse, and applied artificial respiration until EMS arrived. The baby made a full recovery and Winslow was presented with the St. John’s Life Saving Award.
In addition to the life-saving awards, several RCMP members were recognized for long service and they were listed as follows:
30 years: Marwin Zwarych (who also received a 25-year clasp at the ceremony).
25 years: Robert Cozine, Michael Kisters, Jane MacLatchy, Tracey Opheim, Anna Peters, Dave Sanderson and John Sutherland.
20 Years: Mark Ochitwa, Mike Rosset.
The awards were presented to each of them by Lt. Gov. Schofield, with F Division commander Brenda Butterworth-Carr on hand for the presentations as well, as were friends and family and other dignitaries.
Lt. Gov. Schofield made another separate presentation while in North Battleford that day. She presented the Lieutenant-Governor’s Military Service Pin to F/Sgt. Russell Atton Stewart, a veteran of the Second World War, at the Chapel Gallery.
According to the Lt. Governor’s website, the Military Service Pin “symbolizes the gratitude of the Crown and the people of Saskatchewan for those who have served with honour and valour. The pin is intended to be worn on civilian clothing, so that we might recognize those who serve when they are not in uniform.”
