Star of Courage

• Awarded on: December 8, 1994
• Invested on: June 23, 1995

On December 14, 1993, in Napanee, Ontario, Mrs. Maracle risked her life to save a three-year-old boy from drowning in the Napanee River. Mrs. Maracle, her two children and the little boy had been playing at a park when the children wandered towards the river. Suddenly, one youngster fell through the ice. As she crawled out to him, the current carried him downstream. Although a non-swimmer, Mrs. Maracle jumped into the water where the child panicked, pulling her under. Struggling to keep above the water, she called to her children to run for help. Her friend, Terry Simpson-Richardson, arrived and extended a tree limb to Mrs. Maracle who managed to grab it and, using the last of her waning strength, hoisted the boy over it. Ms. Simpson-Richardson pulled them to shore and they were rushed to hospital.