Most Canadians know one thing for sure – never get caught between a mother bear and her cub.
The resulting confrontation has come to be known as the mama bear reaction.
In 2009 when Dawn Manning’s five-year-old son was viciously attacked by a cougar, she demonstrated courage and persistence in the face of danger that would have made a grizzly bear take note. In the process she chased off the wild cat and saved her son Simon’s life.
In 2009 while she and her son were hiking, a cougar pounced on the boy and sunk its fangs into his skull. As the cat was dragging her son away Ms. Manning pounced back and using a metal water bottle as a weapon she attacked the animal and fought until it dropped its human prey and ran off.
We would expect a mother to save her own child but this is just one example of a very brave Canadian risking her life to rescue another. It happens all the time.
Parents save their children, friends help other friends escape from danger and in many cases total strangers put their own lives at peril to save the life of somebody they never laid eyes on before.
Canadians are good Samaritans.
To recognize this fact the Canadian Decorations for Bravery were created in 1972 and have been awarded by our Governor General every year since then to thousands of deserving individuals. It’s good to know that the cities and towns of our country are full of heroes who won’t hesitate to help someone in need.
As you would expect, the Governor General awards many bravery medals to police and rescue workers who are faced with life-threatening situations every day and respond without hesitation.
We should never take their work for granted.
But sometimes the professionals aren’t there to help. Sometimes we are called on to be the heroes ourselves, to rise above adversity and to risk our own lives to save another. When these rescuers are asked about it later they are usually humble and unassuming but in a crisis most Canadians will rise to the occasion.
Consider for example the three Canadian heroes in Mishkeegogamang, Ont. who wrapped themselves in wet blankets and rushed into a burning building to save a trapped 13-year-old boy. They all suffered burns and smoke inhalation but the young lad’s life was saved. The rescuers were honored by the Governor General.
Two brothers, 13 and 16 years old, were awarded for their cool handling of a situation in 2008. They saved their mother’s life after she had been shot by her ex-boyfriend.
They confronted the shooter and moved him aside while they tended to their mom’s bullet wound.They ordered the armed gunman to call 911. The older boy applied pressure to control the bleeding while the younger hero ran for help.
Their mother recovered.
I read many stories of ordinary people doing extraordinary things in the face of adversity and extreme danger.
Complete strangers pull accident victims form certain death in burning automobiles. An unconscious man was rescued from a helicopter crash. Freezing victims have been plucked from frigid water. Accidental heroes are saving lives all over the country.
In spite of their obvious bravery and determination none of these people really consider themselves to be heroes. When asked later about their experiences most say they just did what anybody else would do.
Dawn Manning battled a hungry cougar to save her own son but she would have done the same thing for anybody in the same situation. A hero doesn’t play favourites.
Canadian history contains many acts of bravery by soldiers on the battlefield. They have been honoured and recognized within their own ranks and by the entire country for their sacrifice and devotion. Nobody would ever question their actions or their courage.
But away from the battlefield, in communities all over the country, there are thousands of simple acts of bravery happening every day in the lives of ordinary Canadians.
Most of them aren’t front page news and don’t get recognized by the Governor General but lives are being saved and people are being rescued in every day situations by so-called every day people.
It is encouraging that Canada still recognizes the strength of character and bravery of its citizens.
It is also comforting to know that we can count on the kindness of family, friends and even strangers to rescue us when we desperately need help.
That’s what Canadians do.
