Star of Courage

• Awarded on: July 21, 1980
• Invested on: September 26, 1980

Cst. Michel Giroux, a volunteer fireman of Thetford Mines, Québec, rescued a four-year-old girl from her burning home in the town on 24 May 1979. Cst. Giroux, on patrol at the time, came to the house, and found the child's mother who told him that her child was in the house. He then braved heat and smoke to enter the house. Having reached the upstairs bedroom by groping on hands and knees, he found the child unconscious on the floor. When he took her outside, she was rushed to hospital, but sadly died of burns the following day.