Dryden youth awarded for bravery

Three youngsters from Dryden were recognized for their bravery during a recent Ontario Provincial Police awards ceremony in Thunder Bay on Thursday.

A total of 50 people were honoured, including police officers, employees and civilians from across northwestern Ontario for various achievements and acts of bravery.

The three Dryden boys were recognized for saving a four-year-old girl from drowning while camping at Eagle Lake last year.

The girl went missing and the boys saw her jump off a dock into the water without a life jacket.

The boys ran to the dock and were about to jump into the water until one grabbed a net and extended it out to the girl.

They were able to pull her from the water and take her inside to her mother.

'A great example'

Thirteen-year-old Kale Greer said being presented with an award for their actions came as a surprise.

“I just think it's amazing that we got this award [because], to my knowledge, not too many people get this award.  And even less people at our age,” he said. “It's very rare, I'm assuming.”

OPP Deputy Commissioner Vince Hawkes said it is important to recognize the acts of heroism from not only officers, but civilians as well.

“I think people need to understand that police can't do everything themselves, and we need the efforts of members of the community,” he said.

“This is a great example of how those efforts either saved someone's life or assisted the police in doing their function.”

Officers working in northern communities, including the Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service and the Treaty Three Police Service were also recognized.