Governor General praises military’s role in Resolute crash
CBC News | Posted: December 9, 2011 12:25 AM | Last Updated: December 9, 2011
Says he’ll never forget how they pulled together to deal with ‘very real, very challenging’ circumstances
The Governor General of Canada, David Johnston, said he’ll never forget how the Canadian military sprung to action on the day of the tragic plane crash in Resolute, Nunavut.
Johnston spoke Thursday to about 100 members of the Canadian Forces at the Joint Task Force North (JTFN) building in Yellowknife.
Johnston happened to be in the High Arctic community on Aug. 20 when the crash occurred. He was there to tour the military’s annual Arctic exercise.
He recalled getting the news about the crash when he was sitting with Guy Hamel, Brig.-Gen. and JTFN commander, in a mess tent.
Johnston said he initially thought an aid came to tell Hamel good news – that the operation was a success. But he quickly realized something was wrong.
"And immediately your [Hamel’s] visage changed because it was a real disaster. It was the crash of the First Air flight, with the ultimately 12 people lost and three people saved. Three people saved in part because of the work there," Johnston said.
Johnston said he was struck by how quickly the military got to work, and how they continued to work non-stop for the 18 hours following the crash.
What also struck the Governor General was how the military showed compassion for the community once the immediate rescue operation was over.
"I remember being with [Brig.-Gen.] Hamel, who speaking to the troops he said, ‘now we have completed our rescue role, we now turn into a role of compassion," recalled Johnston.
Johnston said that was the most remarkable manifestation of professionalism that he could ever imagine.
"And if one can have any good that comes out of a disaster like that, it was that sense of people pulling together to deal with very real, very challenging circumstances," he said.
Johnston also presented Commander-in-Chief commendations to four members who performed outstanding work in dangerous situations. The members are Warrant Officer David Redford, Master Cpl. Robin Dawatsare, Capt. Jocelyn Demetre and Sgt. William Cornish.
Johnston and his wife, Sharon, are in the Northwest Territories this week on an official visit. On Friday, they head to Fort Smith, N.W.T., and Hay River, N.W.T.