Wayne Canton – Hamilton Police Museum

Wayne Caton

On 19 August 1990, Junia Fox, his wife and 13-year old daughter Iliana, were on a 30-foot sailboat out on Lake Ontario. They were travelling overnight from Toronto to Wilson, New York, but drifted into the shores of Confederation Park. They had been attempting to travel into the teeth of a vicious storm and lost control of the boat. A passing motorist called the Hamilton-Wentworth Regional Police when he saw the boat heading into a break-wall. He thought the boat was out of control and people were still on board. Jim Poling from the Hamilton Spectator reported the next day that Constables Wayne Caton and Dan Farquhar were sent to the scene and realized the people on the boat were in real danger. Both officers were veteran Motorcycle Officers and donned their knee-high M/C Boots.

Then they tied a 100-foot rope to each other’s waist. Wayne strode out into the high waves towards the boat, while Dan maintained balance from shore to prevent Wayne from being swept away. Dan said that Wayne was knocked under the waves several times and it was all he could do to maintain his own balance and help Wayne get out near the boat.

When Wayne reached the boat, the father jumped into the water and swam to shore. Wayne then lifted the girl into his arms and walked back to shore and made certain she was safe. Both Officers were commended for their actions within the Police Service. In January 1992, the Grand Priory of St. John’s England awarded Wayne Caton the Life Saving Medal (Bronze) for his actions during that terrible storm. Wayne then went back into the waves, walked back to the boat and carried the mother back to shore also.

This was obviously a tremendous feat of bravery. Dan Farquhar said “Wayne did a heck of a job. They (mother and daughter) didn’t even get their feet wet”.

Wayne Caton is seen here assisting another citizen during a fire event.

By Dave Bowen, Retired Inspector, Hamilton Police Service