Category Archives: 2021

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