PP Provincial Constable Marc Hovingh’s name is among the 110 OPP officers, and 888 names of police and peace officers who have died in the line of duty nationally in Canada, now engraved on the tablets at the rear of the Parliament of Canada.

Honour guard saluting in front of the tablets

The tablets overlook overlook the beautiful scenery of the Ottawa River in Canada’s capitol of Ottawa, Ontario. 

The Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ 44th Annual Memorial Service was a ‘virtual’ event to respect the Covid-19 Pandemic gathering limits on Sunday September 26, 2021. The Service was conducted from the Memorial Pavilion at the rear of Parliament Hill in front of the tablets engraved with the names of the fallen officers. A livestream of the event was broadcasted on YoutubeFacebook and Twitter. A small choir formed on the west side of the front lawn of Parliament Hill, and a small number of police and peace officers in uniform from across Canada lined up at attention in front of the choir. The livestream featured live music from the choir, as well as a pre-recorded segment of music from the full amalgamated chorus who usually gather and provide the music for the event. The livestream was watch by thousands nationally and internationally.

Watch the archived livestream of the Virtual 2021 Canadian Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial on Youtube:

During the livestream “Reading of the Names” by Ottawa Police Staff Sergeant Julie Mann and Canadian Border Service Agency Superintendent Rebecca Southerland, OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique and OPP Association President Rob Stinson stood quietly side by side at the Memorial Pavilion at the rear of Parliament for the reading of all 888 names of police and peace officers who have died in the line of duty in Canada, who are listed on the Honour Roll. 

OPP commissioner and OPPA president reading off names

The Commissioner and OPPA President joined a small Honour Guard of OPP Provincial Constable Penny Fulford and Retired Sergeant Mike Beresford in front of the tablet bearing Marc Hovingh’s name, prior to being a part of the very small group of invited guests assembled at the Pavilion for the Service.

OPP officers in front of the tablets

OPP Association Vice President John Cerasuolo and Director Mike Adair watched the Service from the front lawn of Parliament Hill, near the 30th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery, known as the By-Town Gunners who were in attendance to provide their traditional two gun salute. 

Officers on parliament front lawn
A howitzer and military transport truck

Invited guests at the Pavilion for the Service included Anna Korutowska and her son, the wife and son of Ottawa Constable Eric Czapnik who was killed in the line of duty on December 29, 2009, as well as Tricia Kirkwood, the daughter of Ottawa rookie Constable David Kirkwood, who’s line of duty death on July 11, 1977 inspired the creation of the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial. Both families laid the wreath in honour of all of the families of the 888 officers who are on the tablets.

Officers at the assembly
Ultimate sacrifice wreath

Others who were in attendance and laid wreaths were The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness on behalf of the Government of Canada, Canadian Police Association President Tom Stamatakis, Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police President Bryan Larkin, Canadian Peace Officers’ Memorial Association Chantal Lewis and United States of America Law Enforcement Lieutenant Edward J. Strohm of the New York State Courts on behalf of law enforcement in the USA.

Officers assembled outside of the pavillion

The annual Run To Remember and Ride To Remember were both virtual events this year. A small group of runners and riders from the Ottawa area arrived on Parliament Hill Saturday September 25, 2021 and were greeted and thanked by the Canadian Police And Peace Officers Memorial Coordinator Steve Boucher. Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Vice President and OPP Association Director Mike Adair was also present to welcome the riders and runners on Parliament Hill Saturday afternoon.

Ride to remember looking at the tablets
Run the remember reading the tablets

The remarks at the arrival of the Run and Ride To Remember was livestreamed and can be watched here:

A small Family Vigil was held at the tablets at the rear of Parliament at 6pm on Saturday September 25, 2021.
That Family Vigil was livestreamed and can be watched here:

In a normal year, the entire lawn of the Parliament of Canada is filled with uniformed police and peace officers, and families of recently fallen officers are in attendance and honoured. Organizers have had to host a ‘virtual’ event in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. It is very much hoped by the organziers and everyone that in 2022 the service of the fallen officers and their familes can properly honour in person with a large gathering of police and peace officers all who are recent additions to the tablets. 
 Due to the gathering restrictions, the OPP hosted a Memorial Ceremony at OPP GHQ in Orillia on Monday September 27, 2021 that saw a number of family members of our OPP fallen officers attend, including Lianne Hovingh who laid a wreath in honour of her husband Marc Hovingh and all OPP fallen officers.

Family at the memorial
Family at the memorial

This ceremony was hosted by OPP Commissioner Carrique. OPP Association President Rob Stinson was joined by Vice President John Cerasuolo and OPP Association Directors Mike Adair, David Sabatini, and Dave Dube. the Solicitor General of Ontario, Sylvia Jones was also in attendance among other dignataries

OPP memorial service

On behalf of the OPP Association, President Rob Stinson and the Board of Directors wish to thank all involved in the organization of honouring our fallen officers, and offer their ongoing support for all family members and colleagues affected by the line of duty deaths of our members. We will always remember their service and sacrifice. 

Note: For a number of pictures in high resolution that can be used for public or private sharing click here. Photo contributions from OPP GHQ Ceremony from OPP Corporate Communications Photographer Jayne Van der Veen. Photo contributions from CPPOM in Ottawa from Bernie Forestell and Scott Mills.