Mike receives his medal

Mike Williamson and Steve Kennedy pose for a photo earlier this month at Rideau Hall. Photo by Larry Kennedy, Special to BayToday.ca.

Earlier this month at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, North Bay resident Mike Williamson received the Medal of Bravery from the Governor General of Canada, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean.

Williamson, who is legally blind, jumped into Lake Nipissing to rescue Torontonians Steven Kennedy and Jacob Pawlawski, who had been clinging to their capsized canoe for four hours.

Three other North Bay residents, Evan Brousseau, Pam Neil and Rick Neil, received certificates of commendation in connection to the incident because they played vital roles in the rescue.

Williamson had been nominated for the medal by BayToday.ca after our Web site broke the full story of the rescue Aug. 11, 2004.

A subsequent story looked at the roles Brousseau and the Neils played in the rescue.

BayToday.ca congratulates Williamson, Brousseau and the Neils for the courage and bravery they displayed in rescuing Kennedy and Pawlawski.