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(Image Credit: Office of the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon)
By Nathaniel Leigh
Decorations of Bravery

Bear attack survivors honored with Decorations of Bravery by Governor General of Canada

Apr 6, 2026 | 11:58 AM

The Governor General of Canada presented Decorations of Bravery to three Peace Region residents on March 26, 2026.

Mary Simon presented the Star of Courage to Leosette Canoy Hansen of Peace River and Medals of Bravery to Adrian Bartolome and Wennali Eden May Canoy of Dawson Creek in recognition of their actions during a bear attack in 2022.

Left to right: Leosette Canoy, Adrian Bartolome, and Wennali Eden May
Left to right: Leosette Canoy, Adrian Bartolome, and Wennali Eden May (Image Credit: Office of the Governor General of Canada, Mary Simon)

On Oct. 3, 2022, Hansen, Bartolome, and Canoy were hiking near Dawson Creek with Bartolome’s mother, Analyn Shurtliff, when she was attacked by a bear.

The hikers attempted to fight the bear off before Hansen shielded Bartolome and Canoy and told them to go get help.

Authorities arrived later and shot the bear to rescue Hansen and Shurtliff, who have since recovered from injuries sustained in the attack.

by Nathaniel Leigh