from The Dispatch Magazine | Winter 2024

Feature: Canada Beyond the Blue - Champions of Change Celebrated

On Sunday, September 25, thousands of police personnel from across Canada, including our Ontario members, solemnly marched to Parliament Hill for the 46th Annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial in Ottawa. We wanted to pay tribute to the eight colleagues we lost this past year and remember the almost 900 men and women whose names are inscribed on the Honour Roll tablets on Parliament Hill.

Canadian Peace Officers’ Memorial Association President Chantal Lewis captured the sentiment, stating, “Seeing one hat is too many, but seeing 11 hats is heartbreaking.”

The unprecedented number of officers honoured this past year underscored the depth of their impact. The stories shared during the memorial were profoundly moving, revealing the deep connections these officers had within their communities and across the nation.

The memorial service took place just two days after the tragic on-duty killing of Maple Ridge RCMP Constable Rick O’Brien in Coquitlam, British Columbia. The event served as a sombre reminder of the risks officers face daily as they fulfill their commitment to public safety.

“We lost a police officer on Friday while everybody was travelling here to show support for the families who have made the biggest sacrifice of all,” said Canadian Police As- sociation president Tom Stamatakis. “It’s important that we gather and show their loved ones that we remember them.”

Our members marched in a parade down Wellington Street before arriving at Parliament Hill for the memorial service, during which Governor General Mary Simon and Public Safety Minister Dominic LeBlanc delivered remarks.

Eight lives were tragically cut short, leaving families to grieve and mourn, but having a community behind them helps begin the healing process. Our members showed solidarity with the families who feel such a devastating loss. While we can never bring their loved ones back, we can certainly show our gratitude and respect for their sacrifices.

Our members also participated in the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Run, known as the Run to Remember, to remember our Heroes in Life who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Many of our members felt the absence of a colleague, a friend or a loved one who bravely put on their uniform and stepped into the unknown, fully aware of the risks and challenges they were about to face – but doing so anyway to ensure the safety and security of their community.

Like many of our members who participated this year, Constable Devon Northrup from the South Simcoe Police Service participated in the 2022 Run to Remember. By run- ning, Constable Northrup understood the responsibility we all carry to never forgot those who have sacrificed their lives in service of their community.

Now his name is inscribed on the national memorial wall, along with Constable Morgan Russell’s name and all the other heroes in our members’ thoughts and hearts. We will continue honouring their memory and supporting their loved ones and colleagues left behind.

“We all have a collective duty and responsibility to look after loved ones. Following the death of their partner, husband, wife, father, mother, son, daughter, brother, or sisters, we all gather to support them and mourn with them,” said President Mark Baxter. “As the years go on and we carry on the memory of our fallen heroes by participating in events like this, we will continue to be there for the surviving family members and support them in any way we can.”

It was an incredible and emotional site for the Police Association of Ontario, along with our Board of Directors and fellow association members, to meet the runners and cyclists as they finished their last leg in Ottawa, the day before the memorial.