On September 25, 2011, thousands of police officers converged on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Canada for the 14th Annual Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.
In 1998, the Canadian Government declared the last Sunday of every September as Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Day. The Memorial service is similar to our May 15th National Peace Officers Memorial Day, celebrated each year in the United States during National Police Week.
Four officers killed in 2010 and 2011 were honored at this service:
- Constable Garrett Styles, York Regional Police
- Sergeant Ryan J. Russell, Toronto Police
- Constable Sébastien Coghlan-Goyette, Sûreté du Québec
- Constable Michael B. Potvin, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
According to a statement from Public Safety Minister Vic Toews, “The Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Annual Memorial Service gives Canadians an opportunity to formally express their appreciation for the dedication of police and peace officers, who contribute so much to keeping our communities safe and to those who have paid the ultimate price.”
The Canadian Memorial now contains the names of over 800 fallen officers. A total of 51 names were added to the Memorial in 2011, including the four officers listed above and the names of 47 officers from historical cases, with 43 of those officers from the Province of Quebec.
More information about the Canadian Police Memorial is available at: http://www.cacp.ca.
http://uspolitics.einnews.com/pr-news/541996-media-advisory-governor-general-to-attend-the-canadian-police-and-peace-officers-34th-annual-memorial-service
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2011/09/25/ott-police-memorial.html
http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110925/OTT_police_ceremony_110925/20110925/?hub=OttawaHome
Photograph by: Arlen Redekop, PNG
http://www.vancouversun.com/life/news/5456192/story.html?tab=PHOTO