Star of Courage

• Awarded on: January 28, 1980
• Invested on: June 30, 1980

Donald Richard saved a girl from drowning in the Skeena River near Usk on 3 August 1978. The girl and her father had been running the rapids when their kayak overturned. The girl's father was drowned, but she continued downstream with the kayak. Her cries were heard by railwayman Donald Richard who was eating his lunch by the river bank with other men. He stayed on the scene while the others went for the police; and when he realized that the girl would be dragged into other rapids, he swam out to her. Rather than tow her to shore he took her on his back, and though they were carried along a considerable distance by the current, he was able to bring her to safety.