During the week of September 18-23rd several members of the Brockville Police Service will be joining their colleagues from across Ontario in participating in the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Run (NPOMR) and the Canadian Police Memorial Ride to Remember leading up to the Canadian Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony on Parliament Hill on Sunday September 24th at 11 a.m.
This year’s run has special significance for local law enforcement as it marks the 10 year anniversary of the passing of RCMP Constable Douglas Scott in the line of duty in the Baffin Island hamlet of Kimmirut, Nunavut. Scott is originally from Lyn and went to St. Lawrence College is being remembered during the stops by the Runners and Riders at a ceremony at approximately 5:30 pm. Friday September 22nd, at Court House Green. Members of the Scott family are joining the Ride to Remember making the trek from the Ontario Police College to Ottawa in remembrance of Doug.
National Peace Officers Memorial Run
The Brockville Police Service will be represented again this year in the annual National Peace Officer’s Memorial Run (NPOMR) which is taking place September 21st -23rd this year. Constable Dan Hall, Special Constable Sierra Cauley and Acting Staff Sergeant Tom Fournier will all take turns in the 460km relay which starts in Toronto at the Queen’s Park Ontario Peace Officer’s Memorial and finishes at the Canadian Peace Officer’s Memorial on Parliament Hill in Ottawa. They will be assisted by Constable Nicole Henri who shuttles the runners between their relay points and ensures they arrive on time to run with their relay group.
The runners will then participate in the 40th annual Canadian Peace Officers Memorial Service on Sunday September 24th on Parliament Hill.
The National Peace Officers Memorial Run (NPOMR) began in 2005 when members of the Peel Regional Police decided to raise awareness of the annual Police and Peace Memorial Service on Parliament Hill and pay tribute to those officers who had so valiantly given their lives in service of their community and country. This year marks the 13 year anniversary of the run.
As in past years, the run will stop in Brockville on Friday September 22nd for the night. All runners will meet at Highway 2 West at the Lyn Road at 5pm for the short run along King St to Court House after which a short service will be held on the Court House grounds. Members of the public are invited to join the runners during the run from Lyn Rd to Court House and to come out along the route and show their support to the runners as they pass.
Participating officers raise money for the Memorial by selling Memorial Run shirts, but NPOMR also accepts donations and sponsorships. For more information please visit the National Peace Officers Memorial Run website at www.npomr.org
Canadian Police Officers Memorial Ride to Remember
The Canadian Police Memorial Ride to Remember is also taking place leading up to the Canadian Peace Officers Memorial Service on Sunday September 24th. Cyclists will begin their 700km journey on Wednesday September 20th, 2017 at the Ontario Police College and meet up with the runners at the Queen’s Park Police Memorial in Toronto the following day for a morning ceremony before making their way east.
This year the Brockville Police Service will have four cyclists participating in the ride. The team led by Sergeant Andrew Harvie will consist of Detective Laurie Bennett, Constable Mark Chicoine and Brockville Police Chaplain Jonathan Zinck. They will again be joined by Constable Joel Darling of the Gananoque Police Service. Constable David Jeggo will assist he cyclists by driving in the escort and equipment vehicles along the route providing support along the way.
The Brockville Cyclists will leave a day early for the run and cycle from Niagara to the Ontario Police College to join the other cyclists from across the province and adding another approximately 200 km to their journey.
The Police Memorial Ride to Remember will also stop in Brockville on Friday September 22nd at the Canadian Tire Store on Parkedale Avenue in Brockville at 5:00 pm where there will be a brief ceremony and barbeque. Canadian Tire is a generous sponsor of this year’s ride to remember and through their local JumpStart program will be awarding bicycles to selected area youth.
Brockville Stop for Cyclists and Runners
The City of Brockville is a popular stop for runners and cyclists participating in the Memorial Run and Ride to Remember who often comment how warm and friendly the community is toward the participants and how nice the waterfront is. The Brockville Police Service thanks everyone in the Brockville area for their continued support and invites everyone to join the cyclists and runners along the route or to participate in the ceremonies at the Canadian Tire Store on Parkedale Avenue and Court House Green.