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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
 


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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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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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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.