Three Barrie firefighters honoured

John Cargoe (left), Benjamin LaRoux (middle), and Matt Monkman (right) pose for picture with the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario Honourable David C. Onley medals for bravery on Nov. 21, 2013. (Courtesy: Barrie Fire Department)

Three Barrie firefighters received a very high honour Thursday night for their heroic work during an ice rescue on Lake Simcoe in 2012.

John Cargoe, Benjamin Leroux and Matthew Monkman were presented the Lieutenant-Governor’s Medals for Bravery at a ceremony in Toronto. All three are being credited with playing a pivotal role in preventing a catastrophe.

In March 2012, emergency responders rushed onto the ice to rescue 27 fishermen who became stuck on a drifting ice floe in high winds. Barrie’s fire team use a flat-bottom airboat to help with the rescue.

The three men not only battled two-metre waves to help bring victims onto the boat, but then gave up their seats on the boat so the rescued anglers could be brought to shore.

The firefighters then helped save two other firefighters who had fallen through the breaking ice before getting back to shore with the help of the OPP and York Regional Police.

A spokesperson for the department tell CTV News the is a huge honour for Barrie’s entire fire department.