Three teenage girls who rescued two people from drowning and tried to save a third at Alouette Lake last summer have been honoured.
The Lifesaving Society’s BC and Yukon branch recognized extraordinary acts of courage and lifesaving at its 114th Annual Commonwealth Honour and Rescue Awards, held on March 28 at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver.
The silver medal for bravery was awarded to Indiana Gerard, Chloe He, and Sophia Jasemian Asl, who assisted a tourist family from South Korea during a paddleboarding tragedy in Golden Ears Provincial Park.
On July 31 the family was paddleboarding at the lake, not wearing lifejackets, and did not know how to swim.
When they fell into deep water, the three teenage girls – He, Asl, and Gerard – were ready to assist.
Indiana, a Lifesaving Society bronze star award holder, and Chloe and Sophia, swimmers and paddleboarders, acted.
They were able to rescue the mom and daughter, and brought them back to safety on land where first responders could assist, as a bystander had called 9-1-1.
They also tried searching for the father, beneath the water, but they could not locate him. He had drowned.
The young women returned to the location in the following days to assist police with the investigation. They showed strength and resilience in an emotional situation, said their citation. Police located the deceased man a few days later, and the girls were credited with helping to bring closure for the man’s family.
They were honoured, award presenters said, “for their selfless rescue and continued efforts to support the family.”
The awards ceremony gathered approximately 200 guests, including 14 elected officials from municipal, provincial, federal, and Indigenous governments, who helped present awards to this trio, as well as other individuals who demonstrated bravery and quick action in water rescues and drowning incidents across B.C. and Yukon.
Kelly Greene, Minister of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness, shared stories from her time as a trained lifeguard in her youth.
Rescue award recipients were honoured for stepping up in critical moments, often without hesitation, to save lives in emergencies in ocean, lake, river, and other natural water environments. Their actions reflect the highest ideals of public service, courage, and community responsibility.
The Honour and Rescue Awards are among the most prestigious distinctions presented by the Lifesaving Society, celebrating trained lifesaving professionals, aquatic volunteers, and members of the public. The event highlighted the ongoing importance of water safety education and drowning prevention efforts across the region.
The Lifesaving Society continues to work to reduce water-related incidents through training, public education, and advocacy.