The Governor General awarded a Victoria police officer and a Nanaimo security guard Thursday for their bravery.

Victoria Const. Lane Douglas-Hunt and Warnakulasuriya (Warni) Raja Fernando were among the 39 people who recived medals of bravery at Rideau Hall, in Ottawa. Three others received stars of courage.

article continues below

Gov. Gen. David Johnston presented Douglas-Hunt and Fernando with their medals.

Douglas-Hunt was stabbed in the neck and hand by a man at a downtown 7-Eleven convenience store on Jan. 17, 2011. The officer took the mentally ill man down to the ground and with the help of a passer-by handcuffed him.

“Douglas-Hunt positioned herself to protect the onlookers around them,” said the awards literature. “Only when the knife fell out of the man’s reach did she permit anyone to approach and help her restrain him until police arrived.”

Douglas-Hunt also received an award of valour from B.C. Lt.-Gov. Judith Guichon.

Fernando was awarded the medal of bravery for rescuing a police officer being attacked by a man who was trying to take her gun in May 2011.

The security guard was outside a Nanaimo casino when he saw a man lunge at a police officer who was taking statement from someone sitting in the back seat of a cruiser.

The man jumped over the barrier between the front and back seats and started hitting the officer, who was focused on preventing the man from taking her gun.

Seeing the struggle, Fernando radioed his supervisor, then grabbed the man and pinned him to the ground until help arrived.