Two local RCMP members have received the honour of King Charles III Coronation Medals.
Creston’s Staff Sgt. Brandon Buliziuk and Cpl. Rachel Buliziuk were commended for going above and beyond in their service to Canada.
MP Rob Morrison nominated the couple, presenting the medals at a gathering in February.
This isn’t Sgt. Buliziuk’s first honour in his career of 19 years. In 2024, he was also recipient of a Commanding Officer's Certificate of Appreciation and a Commendation for life saving efforts.
In one notable highlight from 2021, he rescued and recovered a 24-hour-old infant kidnapped by parents from the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.
As the vehicle was fleeing the scene, Buliziuk intercepted and arrested the driver and passenger, who were in possession of weapons with intentions to harm.
The infant, who needed specialized medical care in the NICU, was treated for hypothermia and hypoxia before paramedics arrived.
“I just happened to be in the right place at the right time,” said Buliziuk. “I was fortunate to also be trained as a medic. And the baby survived.”
Outside of that, Buliziuk is proud of leading his detachment towards achieving their strategic priorities, specifically for crime reduction in Creston.
“It's the team that deserves credit for that, not just one person,” he said. “It’s truly an honour and a privilege to work with these folks and see what they're capable of doing, in keeping this valley safe and secure.”
Cpl. Rachel Buliziuk, the other half of the duo and NCO in charge of Creston’s General Investigation Section, was awarded for her work in combating sexual crimes and exploitation of children as well as helping to establish child and youth advocacy centres.
“There's certain types of files that are very hard to deal with,” said Buliziuk. “It comes with a lot of trauma, and she does a fantastic job and has become a resource recognized province-wide for her skills and abilities when it comes to tackling these difficult investigations.”
Working for the RCMP is a rewarding career, but part of the job is knowing that a lot of the work goes unsung, Buliziuk noted.
“You don't do this job seeking or expecting recognition for it,” he said. “But to receive this honour, alongside my wife, it's beyond special. It's something that she and I will hold near and dear to our hearts as a memory for the rest of our lives, and something that our kids and grandkids will be able to look up to.”
