Tag Archives: Ontario Police Memorial

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

OPMFStatementMandateProtestSQUARE 1024x1024 Statement Regarding Planned Protest of Mandates by First Responder Group at Ontario Police and Fire Fighter Memorials on September 13, 2021

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

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

2021.01.13 OPMF Acknowledgment Letter website 780x1024 Jason Tomlinson Named President of Ontario Police Memorial Foundation

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

*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

2020 OPMF Cancelled Planning Committee 1 791x1024 *CANCELLED* Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance in Toronto Sunday May 3, 2020 11am

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.

Media Advisory: #HeroesInLife Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance May 4, 2014 11am Queen’s Park Cr E at Grosvenor St, Toronto Canada

opmf memorial 2014 Media Advisory: #HeroesInLife Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance May 4, 2014 11am Queens Park Cr E at Grosvenor St, Toronto Canada

15th Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance is Sunday May 4, 2014 11am at Grosvenor St & Queen’s Park Circle, Toronto, Ontario Canada, the site of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Memorial Wall

 

ONTARIO POLICE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CEREMONY OF REMEMBRANCE

For Toronto public transit & traffic updates for Sunday May 4, 2014 follow the Toronto Police Service Duty Desk SMEM Toronto Official twitter List as well as the Toronto Police Duty Desk Toronto Media Twitter List

Click here to watch on Youtube Live or anytime later

Media advisory,
Sunday, May 4, 2014, 11 a.m.,
Corner of Grosvenor Street/Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto, Ontario Canada
Broadcast time: 16:00
Friday, May 2, 2014
Toronto Police Corporate Communications
416-808-7100On Sunday, May 4, 2014, the 15th annual Ceremony of Remembrance for Ontario’s fallen police officers will take place.Beginning at 10 a.m., all 254 names will be read aloud by two officers representing the latest graduating class 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 and the United States in their march around Queen’s Park, arriving at the Memorial shortly before 11 a.m., for the official start of the Ceremony of Remembrance.

Attending the Ceremony will be the Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario; the Honourable Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario; the Honourable Yasir Naqvi, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services; and the families of the fallen officers.

One name will be added this year to the Wall of Honour:

Toronto Police Service Constable John Zivcic – 2013 . Read Toronto Police Website story titled “John Was A Guy With A Big Heart”

Constable John Zivcic, while responding to a call for a possible impaired driver, was involved in a motor vehicle collision. Constable Zivcic died two days later from his injuries. His organs were donated to help those in need.

The Ontario Police Memorial Foundation (OPMF), host of the annual Memorial Service, continues with its research and 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 on the night of May 3, to honour police officers in the province of Ontario who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

The Ontario Police Memorial reading of the names, ceremony and March Past will be live-streamed by a community and police team on YouTube. All the links will be posted on the official Ontario Police Memorial Foundation blog.

Please engage and share our Celebration of Remembrance with the official social media

platforms of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation.

Official Hash Tags: #HeroesInLife (English) #HerosEnVie (French)

TWITTER: @HeroesInLife 

FACEBOOK: Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Official Facebook 

YOUTUBE: Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Official Youtube 

INSTAGRAM: @HeroesInLife 

Procession of Honour route:

At 10:15 a.m., the Procession of Honour will start along the following route:

– Formation: Queen’s Park Crescent, all lanes

– Southbound Queen’s Park Crescent West, southbound lanes

– Northbound Queen’s Park Crescent East, northbound lanes

– Dispersal Queen’s Park Crescent, northbound lanes

Road closures:

– Associated route – Traffic Control 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.

– Hoskin Avenue, from St. George Street to Queen’s Park Crescent

– Queen’s Park Circle, from Bloor Street West to College Street

– Wellesley Street West, from Queen’s Park Crescent West to Bay Street

Constable Victor Kwong, Toronto Police Corporate Communications

 — at Queen’s Park Circle.

 

%name Media Advisory: #HeroesInLife Ontario Police Memorial Ceremony of Remembrance May 4, 2014 11am Queens Park Cr E at Grosvenor St, Toronto Canada

Watch the 2014 Ontario Police Memorial Foundation on Youtube Live or anytime later. Click on CeremonyOfRemembrance.com “Watch Youtube Live”

 

Thanks to Rogers Television who will provide a coverage of the 2014 Ontario Police Memorial Foundation that can be watch in areas serviced by Rogers Cable. For broadcast locations and schedule to watch click here. Special thank you to Rogers for making DVD’s for the families of fallen officers of this important event.