Star of Courage

• Awarded on: September 26, 1983
• Invested on: December 09, 1983

On the evening of 25 April 1982, thirty-six-year-old Roger Francoeur lost his life while rescuing a three-year-old boy from the Mattagami River. After a day of recreational fishing, a man was gathering his fishing gear when one of his two sons, sitting in the cab of his truck, turned on the ignition key. As the truck rolled into the river and floated away he pulled his children through the driver's window. Mr. Francoeur witnessed the mishap and saw the man desperately trying to swim to shore holding a child in each hand. He entered the water, swam against the strong current and seized the three-year-old. Struggling in the frigid water to keep the boy's head up, Mr. Francoeur went under many times. Another rescuer took the child from him, reaching shore. Unfortunately, Mr. Francoeur was unable to save himself.