Biron bravery medal must have been awarded before checks
Question of the week
Question de la semaine
to rectify a situation that you have created. And this is the point I want to make. Constable Biron made the decision to en- gage in the high-speed car chase knowing full well that there could be consequences, and there were consequences of the worst kind. For this reason, I feel that the award for the Medal of Bravery was not appropri- ate or justified. Actions always speak louder than words and the action of awarding this medal to constable Biron sends at least two disturb- ing messages to the community. Firstly, it says that the consequences of our actions are not important and that we can skew the context of any action to suit some desired outcome. Secondly, the honour of receiving the Medal of Bravery has been tarnished and degraded. I am not the type of person who will sup-
To the editor: The following is a copy of a letter sent to Stormont-Dundas-South Glengarry MP Guy Lauzon regarding the Goveror Gen- eral’s Medal of Bravery awarded to Const. Mike Biron. Dear Mr. Lauzon: This letter expresses my objection to the recent awarding of the Medal of Bravery to Constable Mike Biron of the Akwesasne Mohawk Police Service. This is am open let- ter because it expresses the views of many interested parties, friends, and family of the victims. I am thankful that you have agreed to take this request to the Governor General on our behalf. I think this medal must have been awarded before the background checks were completed. As a result, the actions of
Quelles activités prévoyez-vous faire cet été ? What recreational activities do you plan on doing this summer?
# Play football, some canoeing, swimming as well
Jake Letcher
Constable Biron were viewed out of context, as they must not have included the course of events leading to his ‘’ act of bravery’’. It appears that the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee did not know that Constable Biron created the circumstances that led to the deaths of the very people he is being hon- oured for trying to save. He did this by pursuing people in what seems to be a ‘cow- boy style’ policy of high- speed car chases. In this case, I know that the
pose malice behind the awarding of this medal. So naturally I know that it was not the Governor General’s intent to: endorse the ac- tions that lead to the acci- dent, hurt the friends and family of the victims by re- warding the person who is seen as causing their deaths or, view his actions is so narrow a context. Neverthe- less, this is what has hap- pened and I think reconsideration of this award is in order.
« Le football et la natation »
It appears that the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee did not know that Constable Biron created the circumstances that led to the deaths of the very people he is being honoured for trying to save.
Bobby Comeau
# I m training for hockey, and swimming too.
Enough time has passed that it seems un- likely Constable Biron will do the right thing and refuse the medal. So, with all due respect, I am requesting that the awarding of this medal be taken back. Having to navigate the bureaucracy of the Governor General’s Office is a daunting task. It is at times like this that I am especially grateful to have a Member of Parliament who is so well intergraded into our commu- nity and familiar with this issue. Please ac- cept my thanks for handling this request to the Governor General on our behalf. I am, of course, available to answer any further questions you might have or help in any way I can. writing editorials for The Brandon Sun. Later he wrote editorials and columns for The Ottawa Citizen, where he also wrote features and served as editor of the Citizen book review section. For 20 years he was a monthly columnist for Maclean’s magazine. Known for his humour, Gordon is the au- thor of six books, including At the Cottage, The Canada Trip and The Grim Pig, a satir- ical novel about the newspaper business. In 2003, he was writer in residence at the Uni- versity of Ottawa, and in 2007 taught jour- nalism at the National University of Rwanda as part of Carleton University's Rwanda Initiative. Several activities are planned on the open- ing day around the Big Beaver schoolhouse. Joan McGillivray, whose aunt taught at the schoolhouse, will hand over the keys to the building, while Kent MacSweyn will give a history of how the building came to the Mu- seum. Catherine A. Abraham Cornwall
Rebecca Dow
Court involved determined that ‘no laws were broken’. However, this letter is not about the Courts decision. It is about mak- ing this man a hero by awarding him a Medal of Bravery. I am aware this medal can be awarded for actions which, so to speak, promote Canadian interest. Surely, this medal was not awarded over cigarette smuggling and the like. I cannot help but get the feeling that the nomination for this award was the result of a lark or dare. ‘’Gallant action’’, is a phrase that keeps oc- curring if references to the Medal of Brav- ery. When the full context of Constable Biron’s actions is considered, they are any- thing but gallant. Eileen and Edward Kass- ian would not be dead if Constable Biron did not make a decision to engage in a high- speed chase. There is no bravery in trying Charles Gordon, noted author, colum- nist and grandson of Ralph Connor, Glen- garry’s most famous writer, will be the guest speaker when the Glengarry Pio- neer Museum opens for its 50th season on Saturday, May 19 at 1 p.m. The choice is appropriate given that the theme of the Opening Day activities is Glengarry Schooldays, the title of Connor’s most widely-read book. “We’re delighted that Charles Gordon will be here as we are dedicating the SS#1 Kenyon one-room schoolhouse, which was recently moved to the Museum from Lag- gan on that day,” said Karen Davison- Wood, chair of the museum’s volunteer committee. Like his grandfather, Charles Gordon has also enjoyed an illustrious writing career. He began his 41-year career in journalism The Journal
« Travailler sur mon terrain, du jardinage et prendre des marches. »
Diane Villeneuve
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Grandson of Ralph Connor to speak at museum
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