The OPPA “Bill Elliott” Member of the Year Award is intended to acknowledge Branch members for their outstanding contributions to their Branch, to the Association as a whole, to their communities and towards the public reputation of the members of the OPP on behalf of the OPPA. The winner for 2001, Phil Bezaire surpasses all of these qualifications.

The following article highlights the life and career of Phil Bezaire.

Phil began his policing career at the former Sombra Detachment approximately 31 years ago. He was assigned to Bill Elliott as his Coach Officer. 

Bill quickly gained Phil’s respect during the first few months of his new career. Bill fostered pride, integrity and professionalism in the young officer. Phil’s policing career and personal life have since reflected those characteristics.

Bill also introduced Phil to the OPPA, where Phil soon learned to appreciate the importance of the Association.  Phil simply grasped the vision and made it part of his life philosophy.

Later, Phil became the Detachment Representative at Sombra Detachment for several years, and was then elected to the Executive of No. 1 Branch.  He served No. 1 Branch well as Treasurer, Secretary, and then President.  The 2001 Annual General Meeting marked the 19th year of Phil’s attendance at our OPPA meetings.

During his time of service to the members of  No. 1 Branch, Phil served to the best of his ability and with dignity and honour.  Phil had the utmost respect of those who served with him, as well as those he served.

Phil was very well known in Lambton County, not only as a police officer, but also as a friend, a neighbour, and an outstanding citizen.  Phil was often found at the arena, a coffee shop, or many community events.  He always projects an exemplary image of the OPP and the Association.

Phil received his award at the October 2001 Annual General Meeting. Phil’s wife Judy was with him to share the special evening. Judy was also thanked her for patience, understanding and support of Phil for these many years.

To add a special touch to the evening was the presence of Bill Elliott, Phil’s coach officer, who presented Phil with his award.

To this day, Phil is a compassionate, caring and outgoing person.  He has set an example for us all.  The members of No. 1 Branch, as well as all members of the OPP and the Association, benefited greatly because of Phil’s tireless and selfless service. 

Congratulations Phil!

The First Ever Award for the OPPA “Bill Elliott” Member of the Year is intended to acknowledge Branch members for their outstanding contributions to their Branches, to the Association as a whole, to their communities, and towards the public reputation of members of the OPP on behalf of the OPPA.

The Board of Directors wanted to name the Member of the Year Award after a member who epitomizes the aspects of the Association. Therefore, after much consideration and examination, the OPPA Member of the Year Award is to be called the “Bill Elliott” Member of the Year Award.

Since joining the OPP in 1968, Bill has always been a staunch supporter and advocate of the Association. He was a Branch Executive Member of No. 1 and 8 Branches, and since his retirement has remained active in both the OPPA and the Vet’s Association in No. 8 Branch. Bill manages to stay current with the issues and can always be counted on for valid advice and input during Branch meetings. He continues to attend all Branch meetings, as well as both the Spring Board and Annual General Meetings, and he always brings with him a sense of camaraderie. It is for these reasons that the Board of Directors is proud to acknowledge Bill Elliott by naming the OPPA Member of the Year Award after him.

This year, three Branches nominated members for the Bill Elliott Award: No. 4 Branch nominated Rick Plato; No. 15 Branch nominated Al Monette; and No. 18 Branch had a joint nomination of Clifford Strachan and Jim Whitters. After great deliberation and consideration, the Board of Directors chose Rick Plato as this year’s recipient of the Bill Elliott Member of the Year Award.

For the past 24 years, No. 4 Branch has been involved, in conjunction with the Association, with organizing the Police Brotherhood Night. This is an “International Police Fraternity Event” where police officers from across Canada and the United States gather to promote the police brotherhood bond and raise money for local charities.

Rick Plato has been involved with Police Brotherhood Night for the past 10 years, assuming different duties to help ensure the success of the occasion. These duties included co-ordinating the head table made up of approximately 20 police officers from both Canada and the U.S.A., selling tickets, planning the meal, setting up facilities to hold the function, and arranging the entertainment for the guests. For the past three years, Rick took charge of the event and managed to increase the revenues, which are donated to local Niagara charities.  Three hundred dollars was raised in 1998, $1,000 in 1999 and $2,700 in 2000. This is an excellent effort that promotes a positive image of the Association in the community.

Rick Plato has been a member of the OPP since 1978, having been posted at Killaloe, Burlington and Niagara Falls. He has always been a staunch supporter of the Association and has held the positions of Vice-Chairperson in 1990 and 1991, Chairperson in 1992 and Secretary in 1997 in No. 4 Branch. Rick was also involved in the community when he was an assistant instructor and officer with the Navy League of Canada until 1999.

Rick Plato and the other nominees are to be congratulated for their contributions to their communities and the positive image they portray of the OPP and the Association. Job well-done, gentlemen.           

My family and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all of our members and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year.

In 1999, the Ontario Provincial Police Association launched the OPPA Member of the Year award to recognize the achievements of an outstanding member within the Association and within their respective community.

The first recipient of this prestigious award was bestowed to Brother Rick Philbin from No. 15 Branch OPPA. Rick had been actively promoting the OPPA in the community of Timmins in many different ways. He was instrumental in organizing a minor soccer team (OPPA Roadrunners) and became a member of the Timmins Minor Soccer League Executive. He was also the driving force behind the start of a minor hockey team (OPPA Recruits) in the area. Rick was responsible in part for obtaining outside corporate sponsors for the team, ensuring the OPPA will have a financially stable team in the league for years to come.

Brother Philbin and members of his Branch supported the supported the South Porcupine Food Bank during the summer of 1999. He also assisted the Branch Executive during the costing process in the Timmins areas by attending meetings and making positive contacts with local municipal government officials. He continued to work diligently to promote the Association and its members whenever opportunities presented themselves. Rick was recognized as the 1999 OPPA Member of the Year at the Annual General Meeting held in Collingwood in October 1999.

The Board of Directors wishes to congratulate Rick Philbin and all of the 1999 OPPA Member of the Year nominees for their hard work, professionalism and outstanding achievements in the respective communities.

(Note: The following year, the OPPA Board of Directors renamed this award to the OPPA “Bill Elliott” Member of the Year Award in honour of Bill Elliott for his long standing contributions to the OPP Association.)