Two Winnipeggers were presented with the Mayor’s Award of Valour on Friday at a ceremony at City Hall.
It marks the first time since 2010 that the award was given, and this year it recognizes the selfless act of jumping into the river to save a father and a daughter from drowning this summer.
“I realized a lot that I gave up by jumping in the water, and I didn’t think of it at that time and who depended on me. But I would do it again,” said Jaycyln Morrissette, who saved the family from the Red River.
Morrissette immediately entered the water after seeing the child and father in distress. Morrissette, with help from Brady Saunders, first pulled the father from the water before swimming out to reach the unconscious child. She then brought the child to shore while performing CPR.
The family that Morrissette saved was not able to be present during the ceremony, but Morrissette says they had a meeting and stay in touch.
“They just gave me their gratitude. The father could not thank me enough. I was just happy that they were okay,” she explained.
Morrissette says she is honoured to be recognized and did not expect it would turn into this after posting about it online. All she could think when she jumped in the water was her own daughter.
“All I could picture was mine. When she was that age. And I couldn’t let that happen,” she explained.
Jaycyln Morrissette receives the Award of Valour from Mayor Scott Gillingham at a ceremony in the City Hall on Sept. 19, 2026 (Phil Bollman, CityNews)
Morrissette’s family was at City Hall to witness her being presented the award that only other four Winnipeggers have been given in the past.
“I am so proud of you! Thank you, my girl! This is what we are all about,” said Anne Morrissette, Jaycyln’s mother.
Mayor Scott Gillingham said, “It means so much because these are the types of people we have here in Winnipeg. That don’t even think of their own safety, but when someone’s in need, they will step up.”
Winnipeggers Brady Saunders (Left) and Jaycyln Morrissette (Right) pose with Mayor Scott Gillingham with their Award of Valour for rescuing father-daughter duo from the Red River at a ceremony in the City Hall on Sept. 19, 2026 (Phil Bollman, CityNews)
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