In memory of
Jennifer Kateryna Koval's'kyj
1990 - 1996

The Jennifer Story

Government House Ottawa 1996 — Roméo LeBlanc, Governor General of Canada, today announced one Star of Courage and 14 Medals of Bravery for acts of heroism.

The Decorations for Bravery were established as part of the Canadian Honours System in 1972. The Cross of Valour is awarded "for acts of the most conspicuous courage in circumstances of extreme peril". The Star of Courage is awarded "for acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril". The Medal of Bravery is awarded "for acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances." On the recommendation of the Canadian Decorations Advisory Committee, the Governor General has made the following awards.

STAR OF COURAGE (S.C.) (Posthumous)

JENNIFER KATERYNA KOVAL’S’KYJ, É.C.

On April 2, 1996, six-year-old Jennifer Koval’s’kyj died trying to stop her mentally unstable father from attacking and eventually fatally wounding her grandmother in Bowmanville, Ontario. The
man had already stabbed his mother several times with a kitchen knife when Jennifer arrived on the scene. She courageously stepped between her grandmother and her knife-wielding father and pleaded with him to stop. Knowing that her father was irrational at that time, she told him she loved him in an attempt to calm him down but the man tragically turned on her and inflicted multiple stab wounds which claimed the little girl’s life.
Read the full Jennifer story

Congratulations to Grade 7 students, Kyrie, Taryn, and Olivia who won top prizes in the Jennifer Kateryna Koval’s’kyj Literary Award Contest for Children and Youth.
Jennifer was 6 years old when she died defending her nanny. The contest in her honour asked for poems and prose exploring the themes of kindness and courage. Kyrie, Taryn, and Olivia submitted wonderful poems that impressed the judges with their maturity and sensitivity. Bravo!!
by Maria Vamvalis, Grade 7 Teacher