Oak Bay firefighter Gregory Swan has a Governor GeneralB次元官网网址檚 medal to hang alongside his Medford Fire-Rescue commendation.

Swan was among those award the afternoon of March 21 at Government House in Victoria during Governor General Julie PayetteB次元官网网址檚 first official visit to B.C.

B次元官网网址淚t was a very humbling experience,B次元官网网址� Swan said of the ceremony that tempered the formality of Government House with the casual Victoria vibe.

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SwanB次元官网网址檚 Medal of Bravery came in the wake of a July 18, 2015 incident when the off-duty firefighter rescued a man from his burning vehicle near Medford, Oregon. The car had crashed into a tree on the side of a busy highway and burst into flames, trapping the driver inside. Enveloped by heavy smoke, Swan used a fire extinguisher on the blaze before he attempted to free the victim with the help of bystanders. The fire flared up again, but after dousing it a second time, Swan was able to pull the victim from the vehicle and move him to safety.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 difficult to be recognized for actions that you feel are just second nature but at the same time itB次元官网网址檚 been neat to share in it with my family,B次元官网网址� Swan said.

A number of merit, volunteer and service awards were issued at the ceremony.

Recognition included basketball coach , who was promoted within the Order of Canada at the ceremony after being appointed to the Order in 2016. She has coached the Canadian national womenB次元官网网址檚 team and varsity team at the University of Victoria, pioneering women in coaching.

Bravery medals also went to Const. Craig Barker and Const. Paul Hykaway of the Victoria police for their January 2014 search of a burning house to ensure tenants had escaped.

B次元官网网址淚t was pretty neat to see all of that in your own back yard so to speak,B次元官网网址� Swan said.