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