Name/Title
2008 - Corporal James Alexander Santos, SC, CD - CGG Regimental Family Member and Recipient of the Canadian Star of CourageDescription
2008 - Corporal James Alexander Santos, SC, CD became the first CGG regimental family member to be awarded the Canadian Star of Courage by Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean
PC CC CMM COM CD - Governor General of Canada and Colonel of The Canadian Grenadier Guards.
He was awarded the medal on: 27 February, 2008 and invested on: 19 September 13, 2008
Corporal James Alexander Santos, SC, CD joined The Canadian Grenadier Guards in 2011 and is Police Officer with the City of Montreal. He is the first CGG member to have been awarded a Canadian Bravery or Valour decoration for action within Canada since 1972. On November 12th 2022, Corporal James Santos, SC (Ret'd) was presented with the Canadian Forces' Decoration at the Canadian Grenadier Guards Home Station.
The Star of Courage (French: Étoile du Courage) is the second-highest award for bravery within the Canadian system of honors. It was created on May 1, 1972, by Queen Elizabeth II, under the advice of Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau, to recognize individuals who have performed acts of bravery that involve significant risk to their lives.
Canadian Star of Courage citation:
"On September 13, 2006, a heavily armed man arrived at Dawson College in Montréal, Quebec, and started shooting at people on the street. Witness to the incident, Constable Alain Diallo exited his police cruiser and, dodging bullets aimed at him, followed the suspect into the school. The gunman found himself cornered in the cafeteria and fired at the students around him. Upon arriving at the school, constables Marco Barcarolo and Denis Côté made their way to the atrium above the cafeteria, where they attempted to keep the shooter's attention away from the students. The gunman then ordered student James Santos to stand in front of him to shield him from the police. Despite having witnessed, at close range, the violence of the gunman, Mr. Santos tried in vain to get him to surrender. While the gunman was distracted, Vincent Pascale crawled to the cafeteria door and guided some 40 students to safety. Yves Morin was shot and injured in the shoulder when he pushed a female student out of the shooter's line of fire. The incident came to an end when, wounded by a shot fired by Constable Côté, the gunman turned his weapon on himself and took his own life.”Created By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Create Date
December 16, 2025Updated By
Lieutenant Michael Hayes-Rivet, retired.Update Date
January 23, 2026
