2 first responders to La Loche school shooting receive medals for bravery

Twenty-three people were given awards for bravery, including the two first responders to the school shooting in La Loche, Sask.

Lieutenant Governor of Saskatchewan Vaughn Solomon Schofield awarded Darryl Morin and Kalvin Jones bronze medals for bravery. They earned the medals because they “had the foresight to alert Saskatchewan Air Ambulance and STARS to the potential of casualties.”

The paramedics were inside helping students and teachers at Dene High School while the shooter was still at large.

“I was thinking, ‘OK, this guy could come from anywhere,’” Jones said.

“During that time I had a little bit of a scare when one of the students opened up a door and startled me while I was doing CPR and I still have dreams of that every now and then, but it’s gotten better since.”

Jones was diagnosed with Acute Stress Disorder, but has gone back to school to become a primary care paramedic.

“It was a tough experience, but I feel that I could probably do it the rest of my life, that’s how I feel.”

Morin has been a paramedic for 16 years, but has not gone back to work since the incident.

“I’m trying to help myself deal with it. There’s no rush getting back, I’ve been told,” Morin said.

Both Morin and Jones were humble when accepting their rewards.

“It’s not only my award, it’s my colleague, it’s everybody who responded that day,” Morin said.