A Nova Scotia man has been posthumously recognized by the Carnegie Hero Fund. In the Hero Fund’s third award announcement this year, 16 people were recognized, including Brent A. Delaney from Alton, N.S. Delany, who was 60 at the time of his death, died while trying to save a man from a house fire in 2025. While driving to work on the morning of June 16, Delaney noticed a fire had broken out inside a two-story home and pulled over. “A woman, who was alarmed by flames outside the house, also stopped at the scene and saw Delaney on his hands and knees at a doorway at the opposite end of the house, calling inside to the man, who Delaney had known for decades,” reads a news release from the Carnegie Hero Fund Commission. The woman called 911 and lost sight of Delaney. When first responders arrived on scene the house was fully engulfed. They recovered the bodies of Delaney and the 82-year-old man inside. Delaney died of smoke inhalation, according to the release. “Our Dad left this world far too soon, in an act of courage and compassion that reflected the essence of who he was. He passed alongside a cherished family friend and neighbour of many years, Ron Miller, whose life and legacy are also held with deep respect and love by our entire family,” reads Delaney’s obituary. His daughter, Jenna Delaney, says she is proud of her father. “Of the person he was, how selfless and caring he was. I try every day to take inspiration from him,” said she said in an email to CTV News. “Through the sadness, I am still deeply proud that my Dad’s efforts are being recognized. The world can now see him the way I saw him my entire life; as a Hero.” Including the 16 new honourees, the Carnegie Medal has been awarded to 10,597 people since its inception in 1904. The Carnegie Hero Fund was established by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. The Carnegie Medal for Heroism is North America’s highest honor for civilian heroism and is given to people who risked serious injury or death, or who were killed, saving or attempting to save others. The other Canadian on the list is Matthew Robert Clark of Victoria, B.C. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
