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Thousands join peace and police officers in annual ceremonies remembering those who have died in the line of duty.
Ottawa (27 Sept. 2009) – Thousands of peace and police officers from across Canada were joined by members of the public on Parliament Hill Sunday to pay tribute to colleagues who have died in the line of duty.
"These public employees have made the ultimate sacrifice," says James Clancy, president of the 340,000-member National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE). "It is fitting that we honor their memory and their service to us all with this annual ceremony in our national capital."
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| A somber ceremony on Parliament Hill |
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National Union Correctional Officers and Youth Facility Workers |
NUPGE represents thousands of workers in corrections, conservation, highway safety, youth corrections, sheriffs, security and other related enforcement occupations.
"These workers, like so many other in our union who work in the public sector, know that a good job is not only about making decent wages and benefits - it is also about making a difference," says Clancy.
Honour Roll
This year the names of seven officers were added to the Parliament Hill Memorial Honour Roll. All names are etched on the glass panels erected along the perimeter of the parliamentary grounds, overlooking the Ottawa River. A Memorial Pavilion also stands nearby.
The fallen officers specifically honoured for the 2008-2009 year are:
- Constable Alan Hack, Ontario Provincial Police (Elgin County) - July 6, 2009.
- Constable James L. Lunblad, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (Alberta) - May 5, 2009.
- Constable Éric Lavoie, Laval Police Service - Sept. 8, 2008.
Officers who were among the fallen of earlier years and whose names were added this year as "historical additions" were:
- Forest Officer Donat F. Lalonde, Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife, Alberta Forest Services - June 29, 1988.
- Constable Jean-Claude Phoenix, Saint-Jean Police Service - March 31, 1978.
- Constable Charles-Édouard Denis, St-Joseph de Sorel Municipal Police Service - July 20, 1958.
- Constable Frank Hare, Port Dover Police - June 2, 1951.
Proclaimed in 1998
In 1998, the federal government officially proclaimed the last Sunday of each September as Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day. This service gives Canadians an opportunity to express their appreciation for the ultimate dedication of these police and peace officers.
The National Memorial Day Service is organized by the Canadian Professional Police Association (CPPA), the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Canadian Peace Officers' Memorial Association (CPOMA).
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE