Vauxhall man will receive bravery award in Ottawa for 2017 rescue

By Medicine Hat News on October 24, 2024.

A man from Vauxhall will be honoured today with a Governor General’s award for bravery.

Governor General Mary Simon will present 40 Decorations for Bravery during a ceremony that at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Thursday, including a Medal of Bravery for Braden Gertzen.

A citation provided by Rideau Hall states that Gertzen rescued a woman trapped in her burning vehicle in Vauxhall on July 21, 2017.

“Arriving on the scene, he tried to pry open the driver’s and back doors, to no avail” it reads. “As the fire intensified under the hood, Braden kicked in the driver’s side window, pulled the victim out and brought her a safe distance away from the wreckage.”

Today’s ceremony will award one Cross of Valour, one Star of Courage and 38 Medals of Bravery.