Push is on to award late northern Ont. war veteran the Victoria Cross

A petition is calling for a posthumous Victoria Cross for the late Jess Larochelle. The North Bay soldier single-handedly held off 40 Taliban fighters in 2006.

A northern Ontario politician has presented a petition to the House of Commons calling on the federal government to consider awarding Canada’s highest military honour to a late veteran from the Nipissing area for his extraordinary bravery in Afghanistan.

For many, including veterans Mike Harrison and Timothy Feick, the late Pvte. Jess Larochelle is a symbol of incredible valour in the war in Afghanistan.

During a fierce Taliban attack in 2006, Larochelle was severely wounded, yet single-handedly defended his position, holding off an estimated 40 enemy fighters.

“He left his bunker, went out, exposed himself, and fired the M72 rocket launcher directly into this force that was attacking him, exposing himself dozens of times to enemy fire and to unbelievable personal risk,” said Mike Harrison, a Larochelle family friend

“Everybody who was there says if he hadn’t done it, the Taliban would have overrun the position.”

“Jess represents all veterans -- especially veterans that fought in Afghanistan, like myself and others,” said Timothy Feick, another friend of Larochelle’s family.

“After returning to Canada, reflecting on their service -- whether they’re still in or whether they’ve released -- and we’re recognizing that there’s been a gap in recognition, not just for medals, because that’s not what we fought for. It’s not what we fight for, but the recognition that we put ourselves out there for the things that we did.”

Larochelle was awarded the Star of Military Valour in 2007, Canada’s second-highest military honour.

Advocates have questioned why he hasn’t received the Victoria Cross, Canada’s highest medal, which has existed for 30 years but hasn’t been awarded to any soldier.

In a petition that has garnered more than 16,000 signatures across the country, Harrison and Feick are a part of a group advocating for the review and distribution of the Victoria Cross.

“No matter what you have done, the Canadian government refuses to hand it out,” Harrison said.

“So for us, this is a petition about correcting that injustice. Why do we have this illusion of a valor medal if we’re never willing to actually give it to a soldier who meets the criteria?”

Petition at Parliament Hill

The petition has now formally landed on Parliament Hill for the second time. It has the support of Nipissing-Timiskaming MP Pauline Rochefort.

“I think this will be very important to, first and foremost, just his family and his friends,” Rochefort said.

“But also in North Bay, we are a community that appreciates our Canadian Armed Forces … I think it would be significant for them … if we are able to have that matter reevaluated.”

While Harrison passed away in 2023, Harrison and Feick are hoping Larochelle will be awarded the honour posthumously.

“There’s a large community of veterans who really want just to be recognized for their sacrifice,” Feick said.

“Jess represents, through his life and through his death, a lot of the issues that veterans are facing right now with their health.”

The petition will be presented after the Christmas break, giving the government 45 days to formally respond.

The hope is that the petition will compel Ottawa to finally fully acknowledge the sacrifices made by soldiers like Larochelle and grant them the honour they deserve, in life or in death.