Media advisory - 35th National Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Service on Parliament Hill

OTTAWA, Sept. 27, 2012 /CNW/ - On Sunday, September 30, 2012, thousands of police and peace officers from across the country will gather on Parliament Hill to honour colleagues who have died in the line of duty. The Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, will participate in the 35^th Memorial Service.  In the past year one police and peace officer has made the ultimate sacrifice in keeping communities safe.  He is:

Constable Vincent Roy - December 1, 2011 (Bromont Police Service)

Other historical names that will be added this year are:

Staff Sergeant George H. Bossange - June 21, 1919 (Royal North West Mounted Police)
Constable George Armstrong - July 18, 1919 (Nipigon Police)
County Constable Harry Fordham - February 2, 1942 (Ontario Provincial Police)

Their names are forever etched on the glass panels erected along the perimeter wall adjacent to the Memorial Pavilion which now totals 826 fallen officers. The Service is a lasting tribute to the sacrifice of those brave men and women. "THEY ARE OUR HEROES, WE SHALL NOT FORGET THEM".

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 Canadian Police and Peace Officers Annual Memorial Service is organized by the Canadian Police Association (CPA), the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP) and the Canadian Peace Officers' Memorial Association (CPOMA). CPA President Tom Stamatakis, CACP President Dale McFee and CPOMA President Dennis Brock will be available for interviews after the Service.

The 35th National Memorial Service has been scheduled as follows:

9:00 a.m. - 10:00a.m.	Reading of the entire Honour Roll of fallen officers at the Memorial Pavilion on Parliament Hill, West Corner.
10:00 a.m.	Prelude by police choirs (steps in front of the Peace Tower).
10:20 a.m.	Police and Peace Officers' Parade proceeds to Parliament Hill from Supreme Court of Canada, corner of Kent and Wellington.
11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.	Memorial Service on Parliament Hill.

Members of the media are invited to set up in their designated area (West side of the steps in front of the Peace Tower) before 10:00am.  Risers and hook ups will be available on site.  To respect the privacy of the immediate families of the officers being honoured, media are asked to remain within the designated area until the end of the Memorial Service.

All inquiries or requests for interviews with Memorial spokespersons or family members of fallen officers should be directed to Michael Gendron, Media Relations Officer, Canadian Police Association.

 

SOURCE: CANADIAN POLICE ASSOCIATION (CPA)

Michael Gendron, Media Relations Officer,
Canadian Police Association
Tel.:  [phone] / Cell: [phone]