Durham honoured nine new heroes from within its communities during the Durham Regional Police Civilan Awards.

Durham council and the Durham Regional Police Services recognized the efforts of citizens who went above and beyond to save lives and stop crime in progress without thought to their own well being.

"Congratulations on a job well done and thank heavens you live in Durham Region," said Regional Chairman Roger Anderson during a presentation Wednesday. "You're a great group of citizens."

The recipients come from all walks of life and live in various communities throughout the region.

• Christian Megraw helped save an elderly man stuck in the middle of a swamp in McLaughlin Park in Oshawa April 1. Mr. Megraw heard groaning and observed the man submerged up to his neck in water about 50 metres into a swamp. He called 911 and asked another person to direct rescuers to the location, returning to the scene to reassure the man until an officer arrived. Mr. Megraw then waded into the water with the officer ans carried the man to warmth and safety.
• Victoria Smith and Lawrence Thomas, employees in a Pickering video store, assisted police in apprehending two men attempting to rob the store Jan. 12. Police credit the efforts and professionalism of the two in the successful arrest of the suspects.
• Dave Bissonnette of Pickering assisted an officer who was struggling with a resistant suspect Jan. 22, 2001. As the officers fought with the suspect, alongside Hwy. 401 traffic, Mr. Bissonnette intercepted and managed to assist the officer and handcuff the suspect.
• Hester Nevin was in her Pickering home Jan. 23 when she heard a woman desperately calling for help down the street. She rushed to the woman's aid and found a man violently beating her. Mrs. Nevin ran and alerted her husband, Patrick, an off-duty Toronto police officer. The man jumped in his car to escape, striking Mr. Nevin in the process. Meanwhile, Mrs. Nevin pulled the injured woman off the road out of danger from the approaching car. The couple took the victim to their home to await an ambulance.
• Jeff Garlin noticed three young men behaving oddly on Feb. 12, 2001 near a Brock Road, Pickering convenience store. As he continued to observe the men be saw one had what appeared to a mask. He notified police on his cell phone then quickly warned the convenience store clerks he believed they were about to be robbed. When police arrived, they found one male wearing a mask and confiscated three large knives and pillowcases. The three later admitted their intention to rob the store, according to police.
• Neil Chambers and his six-wheel Argo machine were in the right place at the right time Feb. 2 when two men on a snow machine crashed through the ice into the frigid waters of Lake Scugog. Mr. Chambers drove out to the men and was able to rescue one man and waited there with the other for rescuers to winch the second man out.
• Kim MacDonald didn't stop to think of her own life when she pulled a three-year-old girl out of the path of a rapidly moving van which had backed through the front window on a Dundas Street grocery store in Whitby May 4, 2001. Ms. MacDonald, who was slightly hurt in her efforts, may have saved the child from serious or even fatal injury.

The police awards are presented annually to citizens who exhibit bravery under extraordinary circumstances.