Today on National Police Women’s Day we celebrate women who serve and protect the province of Ontario and beyond.
The year 2024 marks 50 years of women in uniform for the Ontario Provincial Police.
We are proud of the accomplishments of our police women, and will always work for equality for all of our members.
Thanks for all you do each and every day to make our world a better place.
(photo courtesy OPP Museum of 1974 OPP Recruit Class, first class with female Constables to graduate)
OPP Association President John Cerasuolo was honoured to deliver remarks on behalf of the OPPA creating awareness for suicide prevention in Parry Sound on World Suicide Prevention Day, September 10, 2024.
He joined the Mayor of Parry Sound, OPP Parry Sound members, fellow First Responders and community members at a Bench Dedication led by the Simcoe County Suicide Awareness Council.
Special thank you to our OPPA members who had a leadership role in the event. OPP Provincial Constable Katy Viccary was the master of ceremonies and shared her own mental health journey with attendees, retired OPP Communicator Lee Matthieu was a key organizer, and sang and played the guitar, and retired OPP Detective Constable Shawn Evans played violin, and constructed the bench and donated it.
For anyone in the area, the bench is located at 10 Salt Dock Road in Parry Sound and is designed to be a place of quiet reflection. It overlooks the beautiful waters of Georgian Bay.
This is the 9th Bench dedicated in various communities by the Council. To learn more about their work visit HopeEqualsLife.ca.
A video of the ceremony including President Cerasuolo’s speech is available to watch on Youtube
Congratulations to OPPA Director Rob Jamieson on being honoured with the 2024 Association Advocacy Award at the Canada Beyond the Blue Champions of Change Gala September 5, 2024 at Palais Royale in Toronto. The award recognizes police service association members who are working to provide their membership with advocacy resources, supports and champions of mental health.
Congratulations as well to Ontario Provincial Police Deputy Commissioner Chris Harkins who was awarded the Leadership Award, recognizing police service members who serve in a formal leadership role and are committed to making changes within the organization.
Special mention and congratulations to OPPA Pension and Benefits Advisor Marilyn Elaine Thomson-Joseph on her nomination for the Association Advocacy Award.
There were six categories for awards. Nominations were submitted and judged by a selection committee comprised of people dedicated to changing the narrative on mental health for the police community. Congratulations to all of the nominees. You are all winners and champions of change.
The OPP Association were represented at the event with an OPPA table led by OPPA President John Cerasuolo and VP David Sabatini in attendance along with several OPPA Head Office staff.
Canada Beyond the Blue is a national non-profit organization with nine chapters across Canada. Beyond the Blue provides mental health resources and supports to their respective local police service members and their families. Beyond the Blue has become the national voice of police families and will continue to advocate for and support our members across the country.
For further information about about Canada Beyond the Blue visit CanadaBeyondTheBlue.com.
as Sirens For Life 2nd Annual Campaign ramps up
Ontario Provincial Police Association members and their families are invited to donate blood anytime between June 27th and September 3rd as First Responder departments compete to bring in the most blood donations in the 2nd Annual Sirens For Life.
The Sirens For Life Kickoff Event is happening Saturday June 22, 2024 from 10am-2pm at the Barrie Emergency Services Campus. Firehouse Subs will be donating free sub coupons to the first many donors to book appointments at this event. Cake, Tim Horton’s coffee and treats and much more will be a part of this event being organized by Cheryl Russell, the Community Development Manager Donor Relations and Collections for the Canadian Blood Services in Barrie.
Many of our OPPA Members are regular donors throughout the province. Be sure to let them know when you donate that you are contributing to the Sirens For Life event on behalf of the Ontario Provincial Police Association! Book your appointment online at Blood.ca.
On June 9th, 2024, we invite you to join us in supporting one of our own, Dylan MacKinnon, a 28-year-old member of the Ontario Provincial Police Emergency Response Team (ERT) West Region. Dylan was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. Despite facing this daunting diagnosis, Dylan has shown incredible strength and resilience. After undergoing major spinal surgery, he embarked on the challenging journey of relearning how to walk while also progressing through his cancer treatment.
To show our solidarity and support for Dylan, as well as raise vital funds for Colon Cancer Research, we are organizing a walk/run event. This event is an opportunity for family, friends, and members of the first responder communities to come together and make a difference.
Event details:
- Date: June 9th, 2024
- Location: Green Lane Sports Complex, 8 Green Lane, Paris, ON, Canada
- Registration and Check-in: 10:15 a.m.
- Start of Walk/Run: 11:00 a.m. (approximately 6.5 km)
- Lunch and Activities: 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Registration for the event is $50, which includes a Race Day T-shirt and a donation to the Cancer Society of Canada. Your participation and contribution will directly impact cancer research efforts and support individuals like Dylan who are bravely fighting this disease.
Together, let’s make Miles for MacKinnon a memorable and impactful event. Your presence and support will mean the world to Dylan and all those affected by cancer.
To register for the event or for more information, please visit the registration link below, or contact myself for further inquiries.
Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to seeing you at Miles for MacKinnon.
Congratulations to OPPA Director Mike Adair, and past OPPA Director Robert Welsh on being named Life Members of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation, and congratulations to OPPA Benefits Coordinator Marilyn Thomson-Joseph on being named an Honourary Life Member for their dedicated service to the OPMF. Pictured L to R are Mike Adair, OPPA Director and OPMF Board Member Lynn Neale, Marilyn Thomson-Joseph, Robert Welsh, OPMF President and Toronto Police Association Director Jason Tomlinson and Mike Adair (with framed portrait presentation).
Director Lynn Neale and Director Rob Jamieson
The OPP Association Board of Directors thank everyone who turned out and supported the 25th Anniversary of the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance at the Ontario Police Memorial on Queen’s Park Cr in Toronto on Sunday May 5th, 2024. A total of 281 names of police officers who have died in the line of duty are now engraved on the Memorial. There are 113 of those names were members of the Ontario Provincial Police.
This year, the names of OPP Sergeant Eric Mueller and OPP Detective Constable Steven Tourangeau were added to the Memorial, witnessed by their families who all attended the event. Two historical names were also added this year.
Several families of fallen officers attended the Ceremony, joined by a large contingent of police officers and civilian members. The event was attended by dignitaries, the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, The Honourable Edith Dumon, The Honourable Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario, The Honourable Michael Kerzner, Solicitor General and Mayor of Toronto Olivia Chow.
A mass pipe pand, police motorcycles, mounted officers and thousands of uniformed police officers and civilian members were a part of the March Past saluting families following the one hour Ceremony, as families of the Fallen Officers, and dignitaries stood on the red carpeted platform to take the salute.
There was a live broadcast of the event, that included the Reading of the Names of all 281 police officers on the Memorial, as well as a special pre-show that celebrated the history of the Memorial with an interview of retired OPP officer Dave Brown, who has been the historian for the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation since its inception. Lianne Hovingh, widow of OPP Provincial Constable Marc Hovingh laid the wreath on behalf of families. Lianne, along with Nancy MacDonald, widow of Sudbury Police Service Constable Joe MacDonald both spoke in the pre-show about the significance of the Memorial to Survivors of Law Enforcement (SOLE), a support group for families of fallen officers.
OPP Sergeant Trevor McKean shared his story of the line of duty murder of his father, and the significance of the Memorial to his family and the entire police family. The Reading of the Names, the Pre-Show and the Ceremony including the March Past was broadcasted on large screens at the Memorial and live online. The Ceremony and the individual segments of the pre-show can be viewed anytime on the “HeroesInLife” Youtube channel. An album of photos is posted on the “HeroesInLife” Facebook page. Our fallen officers will always be remembered as our Heroes In Life, Not Death.
Since 2002, Ontario has permitted bridges and other highway structures to be dedicated in memory of fallen police officers. Seventy-six provincial highway structures have been dedicated to fallen police officers to date. This Spring two bridges have been dedicated. Our OPPA Board of Directors were honoured to be in attendance at both.
May 1, 2024 at Elk Lake Bridge Dedication (photo Jayne van der Veen)
On May 1, 2024 OPPA Director Dave Dube and OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique were in attendance at Elk Lake, Ontario where a bridge was dedicated to OPP Provincial Constable Vaughn B. McKay who died in the line of duty from injuries sustained from an on-duty vehicle collision that occurred in July 1973. Constable McKay died on December 20th, 1973 as a result of complications from his injuries sustained in the crash. At the time of his death Constable McKay was married with one son. A second son was born in 1974 after his death. His widow, Darlene McKay attended the ceremony and fondly recalled growing up with her high school sweetheart, describing him as “a great guy, super sports person of very good character, very funny, a fellow who would tease all the time.”
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique stated, “Provincial Constable McKay will continue to be remembered for the profound sacrifice that he made.”
Dave Dube stated that McKay was “a Hero In Life, Not Death.”
A CTV Northern story was published online complete with video reporting on the event.
On May 3, 2024 a bridge in Peterborough, Ontario was officially dedicated in memory of OPP Provincial Constable Norman F. Maker who was tragically killed from a gunshot wound on May 3, 1928. At the time of his death, he was survived by his wife, Muriel, and their two daughters: three-year-old Norma and three-month-old Connie. Many family members attended the event to honour Constable Maker.
OPPA Vice President David Sabatini was honoured to be in attendance in Peterbourough at the event along with OPPA 8 Branch President Rob Mahaffy. In a statement about the two bridge dedication events this spring Sabatini stated,
“The OPPA now has 113 police officers on the Honour Roll who have died in the line of duty. We never forget their service and sacrifice. Constables McKay and Maker died while honourably serving the citizens of the Province of Ontario. We will always be remembered them as Heroes In Life, Not Death.”
OPP Provincial Constable Norman F. Maker Bridge Dedication (photo Jayne van der Veen)
Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique stated, “The dedication and commitment of Ontario’s police officers to their communities is exemplary. This bridge stands as a testament to honour Provincial Constable Maker’s memory. We vow to never forget his sacrifice, and this tribute will serve as a perpetual reminder of his legacy.”
Ontario Solicitor General Michael Kerzner stated, “Today we commemorate the ultimate sacrifice made by Constable Norman F. Maker. Each day, police officers across Ontario put themselves in harm’s way to serve and safeguard their communities. We recognize and honour this steadfast commitment to duty and service.”
Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation stated, “It is only fitting this bridge will now be a tribute to a hero who served his community. We will always remember Constable Maker for his selflessness and the example he set.”
On Dec 10, 2013, the Ontario legislature proclaimed May 1st as First Responders Day.
The First Responders Day Act proclaims that “First Responders are those who, in early stages of an emergency, are responsible for the protection and preservation of life, property evidence and the environment”.
In celebration of First Responders Day, the Encompas Care Management Team is proud to highlight the photographic work of two OPPA members.
Thank you to Sgt. Kevin Driscoll of Wellington County OPP and PC Rick Pauls Central Hasting (Madoc) OPP for sharing their “day in the life” pictures.
The Encompas Care Management Team values the peer support that comes from members sharing their lived experiences, which confirms to other members, “I understand/I have been there.” Thank you to both of these officers for allowing us a glimpse into their world.
The Encompas Care Management Team encourages all first responders to look at their personal mental health through the lens of protection and preservation of life.
Whether you are new to your career in policing or near retirement, your mental health is deserving of the same protection and preservation of life that you selflessly give to your communities in daily service.
Today your communities will celebrate you. Our team is here to support you after the celebration.
We’re here for you 24/7/365. Don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our dedicated Encompas Team members for support. You can call us at 1 866-794-9117 or email us at info@encompascare.ca.
Today OPPA President John Cerasuolo was joined by OPPA Directors Rob Jamieson and Mike Adair, the Toronto Police Association, the Police Association of Ontario, Police Associations and Police Services from across Ontario, and Public Safety Personnel in Aurora for the Ontario Government launch of the Ontario Immediate Family Wellness Program (OIFWP).
This Ontario Government is investing $3.18 million into mental health services tailored specifically for the families of Public Safety Personnel in Ontario who have lost a loved one in the line of duty or to a suicide.
This program is modelled on the OPPA’s existing Encompas Mental Health Wellness Program (which will not change), and is specific to the extended families and loved ones of line of duty deaths and suicides who may not be covered by traditional dependent benefits.
The program serves as a lifeline, offering comprehensive support including counseling, therapy, and mental health treatment. The program will also provide compassionate assistance for up to two years following a tragedy, ensuring timely access to crucial services at no cost. Eligible family members, including partners, parents, siblings, children, or identified significant individuals, will have access to crisis support, counseling, and therapy via phone or online.
This three-step care model encompasses crisis and care planning available 24/7, comprehensive services facilitating rapid access to counseling, and proactive care tailored to individual needs and locations.
For further details visit the Ontario Government press release for the launch below.