Author Archives: Scott Mills

Ontario Police Memorial Foundation 2023 Ceremony of Remembrance

picsOPMF2023 Ontario Police Memorial Foundation 2023 Ceremony of Remembrance

286 photos from the 2023 Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance are posted on the OPMF Facebook page.
Approximately 1000 photos in high resolution are available to download on a Google Photo Album by clicking on the link here or on the image above. More photos are being added as they become available.
Watch the archived livestream on Youtube below
 


OPMF 2023 Poster 663x1024 Ontario Police Memorial Foundation 2023 Ceremony of Remembrance

The annual Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance honours and pays tribute to Ontario’s fallen police officers who died in the Line of Duty – these officers are Heroes in Life, Not Death.

The 24th Annual Ceremony of Remembrance will occur on Sunday May 7, 2023, 11am at the site of the Ontario Police Memorial on Queen’s Park Crescent in downtown Toronto.

The event is open to the public.  The Reading of the Honour Roll begins at 10am.

Five names will be added to the wall this year (four current and one historical)

Constable Andrew Hong, Toronto, 2022

Constable Devon Northrup, South Simcoe, 2022

Constable Morgan Russell, South Simcoe, 2022

Provincial Constable Grzegorz Pierzchala, Haldimand OPP, 2022

Constable. Vicki Lynn Wilson, Durham, 1992

These additions brings the total number of police officers killed in the line of duty honoured on the wall to 277.

Members of the policing community are invited to attend and participate in the march to honour our fallen comrades.

Parade marching orders are posted below.

There will be a livestream of the event publicly available on the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation’s Youtube, Facebook Twitter and LinkedIn.

All links are posted at ceremonyofremembrance.ca/live

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Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance Sunday May 1, 2022 In Person at Memorial Site in Toronto

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Watch archived livestream of the Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance on Youtube

 

Download Official Program for Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance 2022

Everyone is invited to attend the Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance Sunday May 1, 2022 at 11am.

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation will be hosting the annual 2022 Ceremony of Remembrance in person at the site of the Ontario Police Memorial across from Queen’s Park in Toronto as we honour our Ontario police officers who have died in the line of duty, our Heroes in Life, Not Death.

The parade mustering location and march-off point will be at Queens Park, in front of the Royal Ontario Museum, south of Bloor St W. The following lists the Section for each Police Service, Pipe Band & Order of March.

  • Column A: RCMP, MILITARY POLICE, OPP
  • Column B: City Police A to Z
  • Column C: Regional Police A to Z
  • Column D: Police from other Provinces, First Nations Police, Correctional, Fire, EMS, Other agencies

The Toronto Police Service will be supplying a Command Post and the location of each Section will be marked.

Parade participants are to be assembled no later than 9:15am for an approximate march-off time of 10:15am.

A representative from each Section (responsible for drill commands) will attend the Command Post at 9:15am for a briefing.

Please note that there are several road closures in downtown Toronto on the date of this event for planned marathon. There are also several road closures for protests. Watch press conference Friday April 29th 10:30am by  Toronto Police Service Chief James Ramer. Please check local traffic and leave plenty of extra time to arrive at the destination. The specific road closures for the Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance on Sunday are listed below for your info:

Road Closure time: Sunday May 1, 2022 8am-2pm 

Locations:

·       Queen’s Park Cres East, from Bloor St W to College St

·       Queen’s Park Cres West, from Bloor St W to College St

·       Hoskin Ave, from St. George St to Queen’s Park Cres W (local only)

·       Grosvenor St, from Surrey Place to Queen’s Park Cres E (local only)

·       St. Josheph St to be closed at St Thomas St, traffic to be redirected to Bay St. W (local only)

·       Charles St to close at St. Thomas St, traffic to be redirected to Bloor St. W. (local only)

Full public details of the event are noted in the below media release. A social evening on Saturday April 30 is also being planned in downtown Toronto. Details are posted below.

MEDIA RELEASE & REQUEST FOR COVERAGE
Media is invited to attend the 23rd annual Ceremony of Remembrance, organized by the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation, on Sunday May 1st, 2022, at 11 a.m. at the Ontario Police Memorial in Toronto.

The annual Ceremony of Remembrance honours and pays tribute to Ontario’s fallen police officers who died in the Line of Duty – these officers are Heroes in Life, Not Death.

The last in-person Ceremony of Remembrance was in 2019 prior to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Led by Police Pipe Bands, thousands of uniformed police officers from across Ontario, Canada, the USA, and Europe will assemble in their march along Queen’s Park Crescent, arriving at the wall of honour before 11 a.m. for the official start of the annual Ceremony of Remembrance.

In 2022, the following names of Ontario police officers will be added to the Ontario Police Memorial:
• Constable Jeffrey Northrup, Toronto Police Service, 2021
• Provincial Constable Marc Hovingh, Manitoulin Detachment OPP, 2020
• Constable Joan Theresa VanBreda, Niagara Regional Police, 2020

Historical additions: These fallen officers have been identified by the Ontario Police Memorial Historian after research submissions by the Brockville, Brantford and Guelph Police Services.

• Constable John Teevens, Guelph Police, 1945
• Constable John Hickey, Brantford Police Service, 1897
• Constable Alexander Wright, Brockville Police Service, 1895

Guests of honour will include: Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, the Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Doug Ford, and families of fallen officers.

For members of the public who are not able to attend in person, the ceremony will be live-streamed on the official OPMF YouTube channel, Facebook and Twitter platforms. Social media links to the service
and additional details will be posted on the official blog of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation CeremonyofRemembrance.ca/Live.

The OPMF will provide a broadcast feed of the ceremony for media outlets unable to attend, beginning at 10:30 a.m., from the Television Operational Centre. In person media will have camera
positions reserved with audio feed. All media outlets are welcome to take the feed live.

If you are a media outlet wishing to broadcast the live feed, or if you require further information, please email Scott Mills communications@oppa.ca or cell 647-449-2801.

2022.03.30 OPMF Media Press Release Request for Coverage 1 789x1024 Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance Sunday May 1, 2022 In Person at Memorial Site in Toronto

 

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation is hosting a Fellowship Night Saturday April 30, 2022 starting at 7:30pm at Petty Cash Social House, 487 Adelaide St W, Toronto. There is limited capacity. Please RSVP to Hazel by email HWood@TPA.ca by April 25, 2022 to ensure your spot. A $10 donation at the door includes food and one beverage.

 

OPMF Fellowship Night 2022 792x1024 Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance Sunday May 1, 2022 In Person at Memorial Site in Toronto

Statement Regarding Planned Protest of Mandates by First Responder Group at Ontario Police and Fire Fighter Memorials on September 13, 2021

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It has come to the attention of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation (OPMF) that a group of first responders plan to engage in a “silent protest against mandates” on Monday, September 13, 2021 at 11:45 a.m. at the site of the Ontario Police and Fire Fighters Memorials at Queen’s Park in Toronto.

The OPMF is a charitable foundation formed by the Police Association of Ontario (PAO), the Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA), the Toronto Police Association (TPA), the Ontario Senior Officers’ Police Association (OSOPA), and the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP). The Foundation is responsible for the management of the Ontario Police Memorial, which includes adding names of fallen officers whenever required and hosting an annual Ceremony of Remembrance.

On behalf of our members, the OPMF denounces such a protest occurring at these memorial sites, which are intended to honour Ontario’s police personnel and fire fighters who have made the ultimate sacrifice and lost their lives in the line of duty. To be clear, our Foundation and those within our organization do not endorse and are not affiliated in any way with the group coordinating today’s protest against mandates.

The OPMF is confident the vast majority of sworn and civilian police personnel across the province are committed to doing their part to help keep their communities and fellow first responders safe and healthy. Some policies recently announced or proposed in many municipalities pertaining to COVID-19 vaccinations for first responders are an important step toward ensuring that.

Everyone has the right to peacefully protest and stand up for what they believe in, and we are certainly respectful of that right, but the police and fire fighter memorials are not the appropriate venue to hold a demonstration against a political issue such as mandates. We respectfully request that the organizers of this protest re-locate their gathering so as to preserve the purpose and integrity of what the police and fire memorials represent within our first responder communities and for the families of those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty.

In Unity,

Jason Tomlinson, President
Ontario Police Memorial Foundation

Canada Beyond the Blue Heroes In Life Memorial

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Ontario Police Memorial Foundation President Jason Tomlinson

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation has long honoured police officers killed In the Line of Duty and offered support to the families and loved ones of the fallen.  On behalf of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation, I am proud to extend our support for the powerful efforts of Canada Beyond the Blue and the Heroes In Life Memorial who are honouring police officers who have died Because of the Line of Duty. Our Foundation applauds the Canada Beyond the Blue-Heroes In life Memorial by joining us in celebrating not only how our honourees lived, acknowledging the sacrifices made through dedicated service, but also by supporting all those affected by suicide.

Jason Tomlinson, President

 

 

 

 

 

2021 Ontario Police Memorial Virtual Ceremony of Remembrance

Click on image to watch 2021 Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance

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Please join the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation on Sunday May 2, 2021 at 11amET as we pay tribute to those police officers in the province of Ontario who died in the line of duty. They are our “Heroes In Life, Not Death”.

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation will live broadcast the 22nd Annual Ceremony of Remembrance from Queen’s Park, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A full professional quality broadcast was planned but had to be cancelled due to the Stay At Home Order limit of 5 people for outdoor gatherings in Ontario.

In lieu of gathering together in person to celebrate the lives of our fallen, viewers are encouraged to tune into the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Facebook Live at 11am and follow along as the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation President, a representative of families, a piper and an officer to lay a single wreath will be live broadcasted from a cell phone to solemnly honour those who have paid the ultimate price while in service to their communities.

Itinerary

11am:  OPMF President – Jason Tomlinson

11:05am: Guest Speaker – Brenda Orr – OPP ret., widow of honoured fallen OPP officer David Mounsey

11:10am: Laying of Wreath – Wreath Layer – Sergeant Kevin van Schubert; Toronto Police Service – Friend of OPP PC Marc Hovingh and Family

11:15am Amazing Grace by Piper – Constable Hector MacDonald – Toronto Police Service

The link, once live, will be posted on this blog at CeremonyofRemembrance.ca/Live and it is appropriate to advise people wishing to watch to click on the blog link, or directly on the Facebook page hosting the Facebook Live at the link Facebook.com/HeroesInLife.

Individuals and organizations are encouraged to post videos and photos to their social media using the official hash tag for the event of #HeroesInLife.

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Message From OPMF President Jason Tomlinson

Message from Ontario Premier Doug Ford

 

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Jason Tomlinson Named President of Ontario Police Memorial Foundation

Jason Tomlinson has been named the President of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation. The following is a letter from Jason. January 13, 2021

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This past December I had the honour of accepting the role of President of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation. I joined the ranks of several Toronto Police Association executives to hold the office of president. Tim Zayack, Mike Abbott and Rondi Craig held the position with distinction and it is my sincere hope that I am able to fulfill my role with as much grace and character as my predecessors.

I must recognize the outgoing president from the Ontario Provincial Police Association, President Mike Adair. Mike has been involved as a Director and President committing his time and efforts to successful memorials over his career and was instrumental in honouring our fallen during our 20th Ceremony of Remembrance. Mike remains with our board as the Vice-President to assist us with the transition.

Joining the Executive Board as a Director is Colin Woods from Thunder Bay Police Association. Colin will be replacing Larry Wood as the Police Association of Ontario delegate.
Larry Wood, most recent Vice-President of the OPMF has been honoured as a “Life Member” after years of commitment to the Foundation. Larry’s care and attention has helped ease the hardship of loss for many families who, year after year, continue to re-live the pain of losing a loved one. Thank you, Larry. We look forward to your continued involvement with the board.
The current OPMF Board is represented by:

Jason Tomlinson President, Toronto Police Association (TPA)
Mike Adair Vice-President, Ontario Provincial Police Association (OPPA)
Bryan Larkin Director, Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP)
Graham Beverly Director, York Regional Police (OSOPA)
Colin Woods Director, Police Association of Ontario (PAO)

Thank you,
Jason Tomlinson
President
Ontario Police Memorial Foundation

Ontario Police Memorial Virtual Ceremony of Remembrance May 3, 2020 #HeroesInlife

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Amazing Grace For Our Heroes In Life, Not Death #HeroesInLife

Amazing Grace for our Heroes In Life, Not Death #HeroesInLife

Posted by Ontario Police Memorial Foundation on Sunday, May 3, 2020

May 3, 2020 (Click here for official news release)
Each year in May we gather at the Memorial Wall of Honour at Queen’s Park for the Ceremony of Remembrance to honour not only our fallen officers, but also to recognize their family members. It is never lost on us, the incredible life changing sacrifice that they, the survivors, endure every day. It is imperative to keep the memories of their loved ones alive and to ensure that every fallen officer from our Ontario policing family, is never forgotten.

This year we find ourselves in unprecedented times with the onset of the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.   These times highlight the dangers that our job entails.  With this pandemic come new risks to our front line police creating new challenges in an already dangerous job.  The pandemic safety directives have required that we cancel our public Ceremony of Remembrance event, however, let us not forget.

To date, the names of 267 Police Officers have been enshrined on the Ontario Police Memorial Wall of Honour.  The memorial was inaugurated in the year 2000 to honour fallen police officers and stand as a tribute to the bravery and loyalty of those who serve in Ontario’s policing community and to silently honour those officers who sacrificed their lives in their desire to make a difference in the pursuit of justice. 

Today and everyday throughout the year we remember and honour those brave men and women who have died in the line of duty.  We stand together to express our respect, our gratitude and our utmost appreciation to the families of those officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  You will never be forgotten.  Our “HEROES in Life, Not Death.”

Please join me wherever this message finds you at 11am May 3rd, by taking a moment of silence to reflect and remember all of our brothers and sisters from police services close to home and across Canada, who dedicate their lives to serve and protect their communities and to honour those officers who have died in the line of duty. We are so gravely reminded of this with what has just taken place in Nova Scotia and our fallen sister, RCMP Officer Heidi Stevenson, mother, daughter, hero. We stand together to express our respect, our gratitude and our utmost appreciation to her family and the families of all of the officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

To learn about how to participate in or view our virtual Amazing Grace social media campaign and watch the pipers live or anytime later please visit our website link CeremonyOfRemembrance.ca/AmazingGrace 

Thank you,
Mike Adair, President
Ontario Police Memorial Foundation

Quick Link References:
Blog Post With Instructions For Virtual Ceremony of Remembrance
Facebook Event “Amazing Grace Virtually For Ontario Police Memorial 2020”
Tweet to invite people to join in the virtual Ceremony of Remembrance
Instagram post to invite people to join in the virtual Ceremony of Remembrance
Donate online to the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation

Editor’s Note:
A number of videos were filmed leading up to the 2020 Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance, originally to encourage the maximum attendance at the event. After the cancellation due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic, these videos are now being released on the day of the scheduled 2020 Ceremony of Remembrance for all to watch on our virtual Ceremony of Remembrance. We hope to film more videos in the future. If you are a surviving loved one of an officer who died in the line of duty or a member of a police service who wish to film a video please contact us. 

Mike Adair President Ontario Police Memorial Foundation 2020

Tyrone Hilton-Officer Commanding Toronto Police Chief’s Ceremonial Unit

Brenda Orr, Widow of Provincial Constable David Mounsey

Nancy MacDonald, Widow of Sudbury Regional Police Constable Joey MacDonald

Colleen Eve, Daughter of Provincial Sergeant Margaret Eve  

Erin Ochakovsky, Widow of Peel Regional Police Constable James Ochakovsky

Barbara Irwin, Widow of Toronto Police Detective Michael Irwin

Play And Share Amazing Grace Virtually For Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance 2020 #HeroesInLife

Untitled design 13 1024x576 Play And Share Amazing Grace Virtually For Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance 2020 #HeroesInLife

Play Amazing Grace and post to social media on Sunday May 3, 2020 to honour 267 Ontario Police Officers on the day of what would have been the annual 2020 Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance

Amazing Grace For Our Heroes In Life, Not Death #HeroesInLife

Amazing Grace for our Heroes In Life, Not Death #HeroesInLife

Posted by Ontario Police Memorial Foundation on Sunday, May 3, 2020

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Sunday May 3, 2020 Ceremony of Remembrance had to be cancelled due to the COVID-19 Coronavirus Outbreak.

The motto of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation is “Heroes In Life, Not Death”. To mark the the date of the Ceremony and honour the 267 police officers who have died in the line of duty in Ontario, supporters are asked to play Amazing Grace on Sunday May 3, 2020 in memory of the officers who have paid the ultimate sacrifice.

Please video record your version of Amazing Grace practicing appropriate physical distancing, and post to social media with the hash tag #HeroesInLife to honour our fallen officers, and mark the day of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance. If posting to twitter please tag @HeroesInLife for a retweet. If posting to Facebook please tag Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Facebook page. If posting to Instagram please tag @HeroesInlife Instagram account.

To view the Honour Roll, and learn more about the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance visit the website the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation website OPMF.ca

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Ontario Police Memorial Pin “Heroes In Life, Not Death”

*CANCELLED* Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance in Toronto Sunday May 3, 2020 11am

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Due to the COVID-19 Virus situation, we regret to announce that the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance scheduled for Sunday May 3, 2020 in Toronto has been cancelled. See attached letter with full details from the OPMF President Mike Adair

**CANCELLED**
Due to the COVID-19 Virus situation, we regret to announce that the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance scheduled for Sunday May 3, 2020 in Toronto has been cancelled. See attached letter with full details from the OPMF President Mike Adair

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Due to the COVID-19 Virus situation, we regret to announce that the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance scheduled for Sunday May 3, 2020 in Toronto has been cancelled. See attached letter with full details from the OPMF President Mike Adair

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2019 Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance

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All are welcome to attend the twentieth annual Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance Sunday May 5, 2019 11am Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

On Sunday May 5th 2019, at 11am the 20th annual Ceremony of Remembrance for Ontario’s fallen police officers will occur in downtown Toronto in the area of Queen’s Park Circle.

All 266 names will be read aloud beginning at 10am, by two recruits representing the latest graduating class of Ontario’s finest from the Ontario Police College. Music from the Waterloo Regional Brass Band and songs from members of the Ontario Police Choruses will be performed
prior to the arrival of the Procession of Honour.

Police Pipe Bands will lead officers from across Ontario, the United States of America and Europe in their march along Queen’s Park Crescent, arriving at the steps of the Legislature before 11am for the official start of the annual Ceremony of Remembrance.

Attending the Ceremony will be families and friends of the fallen officers, police officers, dignitaries and the public.

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation (OPMF), host of the annual Memorial Service, continues with its research to fulfill its goal of ensuring that every fallen officer from Ontario will not be forgotten.

The architectural illumination of the CN Tower will be done in blue light the evening of May 4th to honour police officers in the Province of Ontario who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation will be streaming live throughout the Ceremony on Facebook Live and Youtube Live. Links to watch will be posted on this blog at this link CeremonyOfRemembrance.ca/Live

Official Facebook event can be accessed here Facebook.com/HeroesInLife

Contact Persons:
Mike Adair, Ontario Police Memorial Foundation President 705-715-1226
Organizer Tanis Hurst 647-668-7528
Toronto Police Service Corporate Communications 647-449-2801

Fact Sheet – Ontario Police Memorial

 The Memorial is located in a small park adjacent to the Ontario Legislature, at the
corner of Grosvenor Street and Queen’s Park Crescent.

 The Memorial was built from a grant provided by the Ontario Government. Official
dedication Service May 7th, 2000.

 The Memorial consists of two bronze statues, (approximate 2.5 m), depicting a male
officer in duty dress circa 1950-1990 and a female officer in modern duty dress. The
statues are mounted atop a large granite pedestal base (weighing 30,000 lbs). At the
feet of the statues are eight (8) cascading granite walls. The four – (4) walls on either
side of the main pedestal form a horseshoe shape. The names of all known fallen
officers are inscribed on these walls, the “Wall of Honour”.

 Toronto based artist; Mr. Siggy Puchta is the sculptor of the bronze statues. He has
many awards and accomplishments (1986 he designed the trophy depicting the Calgary
Saddledome for the Calgary Cup Games (pre-Olympic games). In 1991, he was
commissioned to create seven large Canada Geese for the Blue Water Bridge Authority
in Sarnia, Ontario. In 1994, he designed the Marilyn Bell award sculpture).

 The criteria to add a police officer’s name on the “Wall of Honour”:

i. The deceased member must have been a sworn member of a police service.
ii. The Death must have occurred as a result of a traumatic event influenced by an
external agent.
iii. The deceased member must have been on duty at the time of death, or if off
duty, acting in the capacity of a police officer, or the circumstances leading to
the death must have been brought about because of the deceased’s official
status.
iv. The deceased must have acted in good faith in doing everything that could
reasonably have been expected.
v. Notwithstanding all of the above, the Committee may consider any set of
circumstances which lead to a death of a member of a police service.

 266 Officers from Ontario Police Services are named on the Wall of Honour.

 68 Ontario Police Services are named on the Wall of Honour.

 The Ontario Provincial Police have 87 officers named on the Wall of Honour.

 The Toronto Police have 41 officers named on the Wall of Honour.

 

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Ontario Police Memorial 2019 PARADE ORDERS

Ontario Police Memorial – 2019 PARADE ORDERS

FORM UP AND BRIEFING:

The 2019 Ontario Police Memorial Service and Parade will be held on Sunday, May 5, 2019. The march to the memorial will begin on Queens Park Avenue, south of Bloor St. West in Toronto.

Marchers must be mustered into their respective Columns and Sections by 10:00 hours.

There will be a Briefing for Parade Marshals and Leaders from various Agencies/Services at 09:30 hours outside the TPS Command Post.

 

BRIEFING GIVEN BY
• Parade Planner
• Parade Officer in Charge
• Parade Marshal

NOTE:
The roadway will be closed to ALL vehicle traffic at 09:15 hours.
The Command post will be situated on the east side of Queen’s Park Crescent, across from the Royal
Ontario Museum.

The parade will form up in 4 columns, in ranks of four:

1. Column A: RCMP, Military Police and OPP

2. Column B: City Police A to Z

3. Column C: Regional Services, A to Z

4. Column D: First Nations Police, Police from other Provinces and Nations, Military, Corrections, EMS, Municipal Services and other agencies.

There will be signs or Marshals in the immediate area to indicate the locations of these columns and sections. The Mounted Unit and the Massed Motorcycles will form up south of the Cenotaph on the west side of Queens Park Crescent.

The parade will form up on Queens Park Avenue near the Royal Ontario Museum, and at 10:15hrs, will STEP OFF. The parade will move south onto Queens Park Cres West, proceed east into the driveway of Queens Park, until directed to stop by the Parade Marshals.

Following the Memorial, there will be a March Past. Participants will be directed by the Marshals and will disperse north of the Parliament Buildings on Queens Park Cres and on Wellesley St. W.

PARKING

Participants may park on Queens Park Cres East, north of Wellesley St. or on surrounding Streets. No parking is permitted on Queens Park Cres West, Queens Park Cres East, south of Wellesley St. or in the form up area near the Royal Ontario Museum.

PARADE

The Parade Marshals will form the parade into four columns of four ranks facing south. The form up will be between 09:00 and 10:00 hours; with unit commanders being positioned in front of their respective police service. The senior officer shall also be positioned in front of their respective units. All companies will be at close order dress prior to moving off. At 10:15 hours the Parade Marshal will call the parade to Attention and begin the Step Off. The Toronto Police will provide marshals to ensure each company stays in their designated location and will provide traffic control for the parade.

MOTORCYCLES

Motorcycles will line up on Hoskin Ave. under the direction of Staff Sgt. Stevenson of TPS and shall begin at the Command of the Parade Marshal at 10:15 hours. At the conclusion of the Service the Columns will “March Past” the Lt. Governor and disperse north of Wellesley St. W.

ORDER OF DRESS

Participating members are encouraged to wear their #1 Dress with Medals and white gloves, or as directed by their organization. Headdress will remain ON for the entire service. Note: The service will take place rain or shine. Please take appropriate measures.

ADMINISTRATION

The administrator for the parade and service is under the authority of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation.

 

GETTING TO THE 2019 CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE ON STEPS OF QUEEN’S PARK – ALLOW PLENTY OF TRAVEL TIME!

The Toronto Marathon is held on the same day as the Memorial and there will be numerous road closures. Extra care is needed when planning your route to Queen’s Park. To the best of our knowledge, the best routes are:

Hwy 401 (Exit at Avenue Road) – Drive S/B to Kilbarry Road. Paid duty officers at these locations will be allowing vehicles to cross between runners, which will allow vehicles to access southbound Oriole Parkway.

Don Valley Parkway (Exit at Bayview/Bloor) – Drive W/B on Bloor Street to Avenue Road. There are closures on Bayview Avenue, so drivers must use Bloor when they get off the DVP.

Hwy 427 (Exit at Dundas Street) – This is a longer route into Toronto, but there should be no road closures.

It is recommended that the Gardiner Expressway be avoided due to numerous road closures at the various exits.

Below are two links that will give you more info on traffic planning

Toronto Marathon

City of Toronto Road Closures

ORDER OF PROCEEDINGS

10:00 a.m. – Reading of Honour Roll
10:30 a.m. – Procession of Honour (Parade from Bloor St along Queen’s Park Cr to Provincial Legislature)
11:00 a.m. – Memorial Service
11:50 a.m. – March Past (The Procession of Honour will march past the front of the Legislature). The Lieutenant Governor and Premier will proceed to the viewing area first. Families will join them at the rear of the seating area). Following March Past, the Honour Guard will escort families across the road to the Memorial site.
12:00 p.m. – BBQ Lunch

FAMILY INFORMATION

When you first arrive at the Provincial Legislature, please check in at the Family Table. Memorial staff will greet you and provide you with a program and a family pin (with the white trillium), if you do not already have one. Roses and carnations will be placed around the Memorial and you are free to take one at your convenience. A member of the Honour Guard will escort you to seating. Seating will be on a first come basis. Reserved seating will be arranged for the families of fallen officers honoured in the current year only.

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Parking – Complimentary family parking is available at the rear of the Provincial Legislature. Please email Tanis Hurst, thurst@tpa.ca, for a parking pass.
Parking (Paid) – is available east of the Memorial site on Grosvenor Road.
ROM – (Royal Ontario Museum) is located at 100 Queen’s Park (north of the Memorial site at Bloor Street)
Tim Horton’s – Closest is located at 56 Wellesley St. W. – East of Queens Park Crescent (open 24hrs).
Starbucks – closest is located at 37 Grosvenor Street – East of Memorial site (open at 7:30 a.m.)
TTC – Closest subway is located at Queen’s Park Station at College Street and University Avenue (south of Queen’s Park)
Washrooms – are located at Hepburn Block and at the Provincial Legislature.