2009 Award Recipients: Claire Joyce Collier

On April 16, 2008 Ms. Collier was gardening outside her Sydney River, three-storey apartment building where she was also the superintendent. The third floor was engulfed in flames when Ms. Collier immediately entered the building and rescued a senior citizen on the second floor by persistently banging on the door until the resident answered the door. The resident did not hear the fire alarm ringing. Ms. Collier pulled the senior out of her apartment and escorted her, along with another senior resident, who was in the hall after hearing the fire alarm, out of the building. Within minutes of the rescue, the entire building was engulfed in flames and the 12-unit building was destroyed.

Ms. Collier was born and raised in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia and remains a superintendent with I.C.T. Group. Ms. Collier is married with three grown children, and six grandchildren.