On December 14, 1993, in Napanee, Ontario, Mrs. Simpson-Richardson rescued her friend, Sheila Maracle, and a three-year-old boy from drowning in the Napanee River. Mrs. Simpson-Richardson was at home preparing supper when Mrs. Maracle's two children rushed in to tell her that their mother was in the river. Racing to the scene, Mrs. Simpson-Richardson located her friend and a little boy and immediately pushed a tree branch across the ice towards them. When they were unable to grab hold of the limb, Mrs. Simpson-Richardson slid on her stomach across the ice, but the ice gave way. She pulled herself out of the water and returned to shore, where she again extended the tree limb to the victims and was finally able to pull them to shore.