Alberta medal recipient from Queen Elizabeth II reflects on meeting her
Tyler Bailer was just 17 years old when he saved his step-father's life. Little did he know, it would earn him an opportunity to meet the Queen.
"I just heard this loud thud and it was actually my step-father collapsing, so I ran upstairs, kind of assessed the situation and started doing CPR right away on him," he said.
"I was always told that’s one of the reasons why he’s with us now still, is because of my quick actions and the training that I had."
Lifesaving sport is a combination of Olympic swimming and lifesaving elements, like CPR and rescue tactics. It's recognized by the International Olympic Committee and the Commonwealth Games Federation and governed by the Lifesaving Society.
Bailer was nominated for the Russell medal, an award for a rescuer under 18 and invited to Buckingham Palace to receive his award.
"When I first got that call, I was like it’s gotta be a scam or something, like there’s no way," he said. "About a year later, that’s where I ended up being."
He was one of three to receive an award that day, Bailer said, and got to meet the head of the society: Queen Elizabeth.
"It was super nerve-wracking, like I’m meeting the Queen," he said. "Like I’m from Wetaskiwin in Alberta, it’s like no one ever meets the Queen from over here, and here I am getting thrust into this situation."
Bailer explains that the Queen spoke to each person individually before they were given their medals, and he said she asked him about his family, and the two talked about the rescue.
"She was very soft spoken, she was quite witty," he adds. "I remember, I was almost afraid to shake her hand because I didn’t want to like grab her too hard or hurt her."
Despite meeting the Queen, Bailer said he was never really one to follow along in the affairs of the royal family. So, he said, he didn't expect to feel so sad when he heard the Queen had died.
"I was quite surprised. It kind of hit me in a different way I wasn’t really expecting it to," he said, adding that he is close to the age she was when she ascended to the throne.
"It just hit me."
Bailer said he's recently been looking at some of the photos from that meeting and reliving the moment. His medal is safely tucked away, and though he hasn't seen it in a while, he said it's more precious now that she's gone.
"I think it has more sentimental value to it now," he said. "I was actually given something by [her], from her, and I think it adds that little more value to myself anyway."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.