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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)<\/p>\nTwo Winnipeggers were presented with the Mayor\u2019s Award of Valour on Friday at a ceremony at City Hall.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cI realized a lot that I gave up by jumping in the water, and I didn\u2019t think of it at that time and who depended on me. But I would do it again,\u201d said Jaycyln Morrissette, who saved the family from the Red River.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just gave me their gratitude. The father could not thank me enough. I was just happy that they were okay,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll I could picture was mine. When she was that age. And I couldn\u2019t let that happen,\u201d she explained.<\/p>\n
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)<\/p>\n
Morrissette\u2019s family was at City Hall to witness her being presented the award that only other four Winnipeggers have been given in the past.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am so proud of you! Thank you, my girl! This is what we are all about,\u201d said Anne Morrissette, Jaycyln\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n
Mayor Scott Gillingham said, \u201cIt means so much because these are the types of people we have here in Winnipeg. That don\u2019t even think of their own safety, but when someone\u2019s in need, they will step up.\u201d<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tWinnipeggers 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) <\/p>\n
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