On April 12, 1988, Cpl. Parent saved a depressed woman from drowning. As he was crossing a bridge between the cities of Hull and Gatineau, Quebec, his attention was drawn to a small group of bystanders. He saw a woman being carried off by the swell of the river. He immediately ran down to the dock, dove into the river and, fighting the current, swam up to the woman and caught hold of her. He succeeded in calming her and making his way to the dock, where an onlooker assisted him in pulling her out of the water.