Three local firefighters have received one of Ontario’s highest honours for bravery after pulling off a daring and unconventional rescue during a grain silo collapse in 2024.
Owen Sound firefighter Jay Gow, Inter-Township Fire Chief Jeff Gautreau, and Deputy Chief Andy Redmond were each awarded the Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner’s Citation for Lifesaving in a ceremony held June 5 in Jarvis, near Hagersville. The award recognizes outstanding acts of bravery by individuals who save or attempt to save a life in the face of personal risk.
The incident unfolded when three workers became trapped after scaffolding inside a grain silo gave way during construction. Despite the highly dangerous conditions, the rescue team managed to bring all three victims safely to the ground.
In an interview with CKNXNewsToday.ca, Owen Sound Fire Chief Phil Eagleson praised the quick action and leadership shown by the firefighters, particularly firefighter Jay Gow.
"We’re very proud of Owen Sound firefighter Jay Gow," Eagleson said. "He was able to assist three men from an extremely hazardous, precarious position and rescued them and brought them to the ground safely."
According to Eagleson, the workers had been clinging to the silo wall after their scaffolding collapsed. Using a crane, firefighter Gow was lifted up to their position and, one by one, secured each man in a harness before lowering them to safety. "They were working on building a grain silo when their scaffolding collapsed from within," Eagleson explained. "They were able to cling to the wall and hold there on the wall until we used that crane to lift firefighter Gow up to them, where he put them in a harness and brought them on board one by one."
Eagleson said the rescue was not only remarkable for its complexity, but also for the level of collaboration involved. "The success of the rescue was a group effort from the crane company, Inter-Township Fire Department, OPP, Owen Sound Fire Department, and the constructors of the tower," he said. "Everyone communicated well and worked together to effectively make the rescue happen."
The Inter-Township Fire Department was also recognized as a department, highlighting the strong regional cooperation and coordinated response to the emergency.
Owen Sound Mayor Ian Boddy called the recognition "an incredible honour," praising the firefighters’ bravery and teamwork in what he described as a "highly dangerous and unpredictable situation." Georgian Bluffs Mayor Sue Carleton also commended the responders, calling their actions "nothing short of extraordinary."