Medal of Bravery

• Awarded on: July 2, 1979
• Invested on: September 21, 1979

On 27 July 1978, Francine Desbiens swam a kilometre and a half in bad weather to get help for an adult and three children stranded on a small tidal island in the St. Lawrence near Sainte-Anne-de- Portneuf. The group had been collecting shells and had failed to notice the tide coming in and cutting off their escape to the mainland. Realizing that the island itself would be submerged, Mrs. Desbiens swam in very cold and treacherous water until she reached shore. Two men of the district then rescued the remaining three in a motor boat.