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"To our police and peace officers across the country and serving in countries abroad, we express our deep gratitude for your dedication to keeping our families safe and making our communities better places to live, work and raise our children." Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
Ottawa (30 Sept. 2013) - Under beautiful blue skies, thousands of Canada's police and peace officers along with family, friends and supporters gathered on Parliament Hill to honour those officers who have died in the line of duty.
NUPGE Justice workers among participants
Justice workers with the National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) were among the memorial participants. The officers were in Ottawa attending a NUPGE conference and working sessions for Correctional Officers and Youth Facility Workers as well as for Probation Officers and Sheriffs. NUPGE members were prominent among the colour guard for the parade.
Honouring the fallen
For 2013 the following names were added to the Canadian Police Memorial Pavilion, located behind Parliament Hill (éclick here):
- Jennifer A. Kovach, Guelph Police
- Steve Déry, Kativik Regional Police
- Howard J. Lavers, Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Justice
- Adrian J. Oliver, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Donovan Lagrange, Sûréte du Quebec
- Katia Hadouchi, Sûréte du Quebec
- Rodney F. Lazenby, Municipal District of Foothills Protective Services
- Derek W. H. Pineo, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Historical names added include:
- Frederick F. Harris, Canada Customs
- Indian Peter, Dominion Police Force of Canada
- John Rutledge, Central Prison for the Ontario Government
A nobe and essential function
"Police and peace officers in Canada and in foreign countries provide a noble and essential function. Each day they carry out their duties knowing the dangers they face. Today is our opportunity to remember and honour the men and women who made the supreme sacrifice in fulfilling a vocation they strongly believed in and carried out with pride: ensuring the safety and security of their fellow Canadians. It is also an opportunity for us to think of the families, friends and colleagues of these officers, those who have lost a cherished loved one, and to extend our thoughts and prayers to them," said the Honourable Steven Blaney, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness.
The day's ceremony began at 9 a.m. as officers read aloud the names of each of the police and peace officers who have died on-duty over the years. There was then a march to Parliament Hill where officers were greeted by dignitaries and the general public.
In 1998, the federal government proclaimed the last Sunday in September as Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day. The Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Service gives Canadians an opportunity each year to formally express appreciation for the dedication of police and peace officers, who have contributed so much to our country.
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