P.E.I. man honoured with life-saving award 89 years after rescue

A Canadian Red Cross award being presented 89 years after a life-saving rescue is bringing together four generations of a P.E.I. family.

Friday, the Red Cross announced it would honour three Islanders: Donnie Bernard of Alberton, P.E.I., who rescued an injured woman from under her motorized scooter last May; Gordon Sobey of Searltown, who located his missing neighbour during a snowstorm in Feb., 2015; and Peter Ramsay of Alberton, who in May, 1927, single-handedly rescued two fellow fishermen in Alberton Harbour as they were drowning.

It makes us proud that he rescued two people and he's getting his overdue recognition. Rose Barbour, Peter Ramsay's great-granddaughter

"The family is just thrilled," said Ramsay's great-granddaughter Rose Barbour of Charlottetown, who nominated him.

Ramsay's two surviving children he had 12 Lucille Enman from Toronto and Billy Ramsay from Halifax, who just turned 80, will accept the award Saturday, part of a group of 20 family members who will attend the ceremony.

Happy reunion

The Ramsay descendants are many, said Barbour, and they've planned a gathering of 50 at a local eatery to honour their patriarch.

"It seems like we only come together now for funerals and wakes, so just to get together for something so positive is really exciting," said Barbour. "It makes us proud that he rescued two people and he's getting his overdue recognition."

Barbour's family had repeated the story of Peter's bravery over the generations, but it became top-of-mind again when in early March, the West Prince Graphic newspaper republished the original story from the June 1927 edition of the Island Farmer.

"He saw the overturned boat and without hesitation put about and went to the rescue, although he was alone in his boat," the article reads.

Art Wilkie and Jack Mackie were struggling in the water and close to perishing, the article said.

"Skilfully, yet bravely, he manoeuvred until he came alongside at great risk to himself and his boat," it said.

Although at the time, the victims' families did reward Ramsay with two 50-lb. bags of potatoes, "which was a big deal back then," Barbour said, the family got talking about a more formal recognition after the article was republished.

"I was just so emotional, because I knew how much it would mean to my family," said Barbour of receiving the phone call from the Red Cross confirming the award. "I'm sure he'll be smiling down on his big family tomorrow."

Lt. Gov. Frank Lewiswill participate in the Rescuer Awards presentations Saturday at 11:15 a.m.

The Canadian Red Cross offers Rescuer Awards to honour untrained or non-professional rescuers as well as off-duty first responders for their life-saving actions.

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