The families of Carnegie heroes Christopher and Joseph Novecosky pose with Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty and his wife Donna after the medal ceremony. From left are Joseph’s parents, Louise and Andrew Novecoksy; wife of Christopher, Kristen Bilawchuk; and Mirasty and wife Donna.
Nearly 100 friends, family members, and community supporters showed up to honor Carnegie heroes Christopher and Joseph Novecosky at a Nov. 10 ceremony in which Saskatchewan Lieutenant Governor Russ Mirasty presented the posthumous Carnegie Medal to their families. The presentation was held at the Crossmount (Saskatchewan) Cider Company.
“Looking out into this room of people who loved Chris and Joe. It’s surreal, but it’s also incredibly special,” said Kristen Bilawchuk, Christopher’s widow, who expressed enormous gratitude. “What has been most appreciated is your presence and your willingness to sit beside us in our pain without expecting us to return to the people that we were.”
The ceremony took place just over a year after the deaths of Joseph, Christopher, and 7-year-old Ava Novecosky, after Ava and her sister fell through thin ice covering Humboldt Lake on Nov. 4, 2023. The girls’ uncle, Christopher, and cousin, Joseph, along with the girls’ mother responded, running onto the ice and entering the 35-degree water. Both men attempted to push an unconscious Ava up onto the ice, but were unsuccessful. Within two minutes, both men were exhausted from their efforts and the freezing water. Christopher let go of Evelyn and submerged. Joseph handed Ava off to her mother and also submerged. By then, the girls’ father had pushed a kayak full of life vests across the ice and into the water. The mother grasped the kayak while holding Ava. Evelyn swam to the kayak and took a life jacket. Arriving firefighters used ropes and ice-rescue suits to pull her out along with her mother. Firefighters retrieved Ava who was pronounced dead at the scene. Evelyn and her mother suffered from hypothermia but recovered. A dive team found the bodies of Christopher and Joseph the next day. They had drowned. Firefighters retrieved Ava who had drowned. Evelyn and her mother suffered from hypothermia but recovered. A dive team recovered Christopher and Joseph the next day. They had also drowned.
“With the events of Nov. 4, 2023, our family, our friend groups, and our communities have this golden thread. The golden thread of great sacrifice is woven through our story. It’s a story that changed us, but it’s a story of sweetness, great love, and honor. This is Chris’ and Joseph’s legacy,” said Louise Novecosky, Joseph’s mother.
Mirasty said that he and his wife, Donna, travel the province presenting all sorts of medals to deserving citizens, but that the nature of this ceremony was different.
“Your family has been through almost unimaginable tragedy,” he said. “In addition to committing acts of heroism, their efforts also identify the best of human nature, as they put others’ welfare, obviously, above their own,” he said.
Mirasty also presented the Royal Canadian Humane Society gold medal to the families.