Airdrie RCMP has credited a five-year-old girl from Crossfield for her bravery and quick thinking after her father suffered a medical emergency late last month.
According to RCMP, on March 26, 2025, Ellie Mae Lefebvre was at her home in Crossfield with her father when he suddenly had a medical emergency.
"Ellie stayed calm and called 911 (she activated the medic alarm they have at home and then 9-1-1 called the residence and obtained additional information from Ellie Mae). RCMP and EMS quickly responded, and her father was taken care of," police stated.
In an interview with DiscoverAirdrie, Ellie said her dad had been sitting on the couch when she noticed something was wrong.
"I saw him making a sound, and then he went on the ground, and then he had a seizure."
Without hesitation, Ellie jumped into action.
"Call 9-1-1," she said. "Because I know when he’s having a seizure, and I know what’s the right to do."
Ellie told the dispatcher everything she could.
"My name, my dad’s name, my mom’s name, my brother’s name."
Although Ellie couldn’t provide an address, help was already on its way. After the call, she continued helping around the house.
"I put the dog away, and I helped my brother."
When asked where she learned what to do, Ellie said her mom taught her.
Her mother, Rebecca Lefebvre, said the family began preparing Ellie years ago.
"He started having seizures in 2020, so she... she’s just such an old soul," Lefebvre said. "She’s a special girl, and she just wants to help. And we coached her from a young age — what to do, and what the signs are of a seizure."
Lefebvre said the family has a medic alarm linked to their security system.
"We have a button that’s attached to our security cameras that tells the paramedics where to come," she said. "If there’s any emergency, she’s to press that button. The first responders call my husband’s phone, and it notifies my phone too when the button’s been pressed."
She said she was home within 10 minutes of the alarm being triggered.
On April 4, Airdrie RCMP Sgt. Cagri Yilmaz and Cpl. Ryan Meeko, on behalf of Detachment Commander Inspector Lauren Weare, presented Ellie with a certificate for her bravery and quick thinking, along with a few RCMP presents.
"We got to see the police," Ellie said. "I got an award, and I got a police badge."
Asked if she enjoyed the visit, Ellie lit up.
"Yeah!" she said. "Probably going to the police station... and going to their police car."
So, does she want to be a police officer one day?
"Yes, I want to be a police officer because I want to drive the car."
Lefebvre said seeing Ellie receive the award was emotional.
"They took a scary, bad situation we’ve been going through the last few years and turned it into something so special and amazing. I never would have thought — it was really heartwarming."
Asked what advice she would give other parents unsure whether to talk to young children about medical emergencies, Lefebvre said honesty is key.
"I would 100 per cent just be open," she said. "At the end of the day, it’s a part of Ellie’s life and it’s a part of her dad at this point. We’re just trying to navigate the kids through that. It’s a challenge, but she pulled through and is a good little girl."
"Great job Ellie!" the RCMP said in a release. "This is a great reminder to parents to have that conversation with their children. It is so important to teach children what to do in an emergency."
"Because Ellie knew what to do, her dad is still with them today."
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