Sherri deGroot and Joe Evans are Board Members of the OPP Youth Foundation. They join 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the Pathway of Memories and Milestones.
Each September a large gathering of OPP members, veterans and friends witness the dedication ceremony of the newest donated memory stones for that year.
Each day the Pathway of Memories and Milestones is witness to visitors and members making time to reflect on the messages and names inscribed on the stones.
The inscriptions on the memory and milestone stones donated by members, friends and colleagues, reflect expressions of pride, friendships, love and careers… creating lasting memories.
The funds raised are used to provide funding for our support of youth in need across the province.
The site will accommodate more memory and milestone stones for many years to come and we continue to accept donations until June 30, 2025 for new Memory and Milestone Stones that will be installed on the site in the summer of 2025, and inducted at the ceremony on September 8th, 2025.
For all information and to order online visit oppyouthfoundation.ca.
Ontario Provincial Police Association Director and former OPPA President Rob Jamieson officially retires on May 30th, 2025 from the OPP and the OPP Association.
Congratulations from all of us at the OPP Association. We wish Rob and his family all the best in retirement. We are grateful to Rob for his dedicated service to the community and to the membership of the OPPA.
Rob joins the 10-5 Podcast to reflect on his 30-year journey in policing. He shares powerful stories of trials and triumphs, opens up about his deep commitment to mental health and wellness, and gives an exclusive sneak peek into his new book that he has authored along with writer Laurie Stephens titled “In Pursuit of Mental Wellness in the First Responder Community”.
This episode is an inspiring and wide-ranging conversation that goes beyond the badge.
Copies of the book can be purchased on Amazon.ca. The link is posted on Rob’s website: robkjamieson.com
All proceeds from the sales of the book will be donated to Survivors of Law Enforcement Everywhere (S.O.L.E.), Boots on the Ground-Anonymous Peer Support for First Resonders by First Responders, and Canada Beyond the Blue, committed to providing a community of support to police members and their families.
All are invited to attend the 2nd Annual 2025 Ontario Police Suicide Memorial (OPSM) at 11 a.m. ET, Sunday June 22, 2025 on Queen’s Park Crescent, Toronto, to show support for all Ontario police members who have died “Because of the Line of Duty”.
Our 10-5 Podcast guest is Psychologist Dr Andrew Ekblad. Dr Ekblad discusses Post Traumatic Growth, and the importance of the Ontario Police Suicide Memorial.
Dr. Ekblad is a Board Member of Canada Beyond the Blue, the peer-led organization leading the Ontario Police Suicide Memorial, with support of the Police Association of Ontario, the Ontario Provincial Police Association, and the Toronto Police Association.
Ontario Police members are invited to attend the OPSM in or out of uniform.
At 10:15 a.m. mustering will begin in the paved parking lot south of the Legislative Assembly Building.
A March to the Ceremony will begin promptly at 10:50 a.m.
The OPSM will be held at Queen’s Park Crescent, which is located opposite Queen’s Park. The closest intersection is Grosvenor Stree & Queen’s Park East.
Consider carpooling or taking public transit/GO Train if possible. Alternatively, there are parking lots within a 10-15 minute walk from the Memorial site.
OPSM pins can be ordered in bulk through the Canada Beyond the Blue website.
For information on attendance and OPPA funding visit the “Police Memorials-Attendance and Reimbursement” section of the OPPA website. (login required).
Any questions can be emailed to communications@oppa.ca.
Cheryl Russell of Canadian Blood Services talks about the importance of donating blood as part of the Partner For Life program on 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association. The OPPA has a team for blood donations. We encourage all of our Members to donate blood on a regular basis, and to become a member of our OPPA team. Members and the public can also join other teams.
Book an appointment at Blood.ca or on the “GiveBlood” app available for download from the Apple App Store and from Google Play. Once you have the app downloaded, click on the “Partners For Life” section, search for our Ontario Provincial Police Association team and join us. Each time you donate, wherever that may be, your donation will count towards our goal of 100 donations for 2025.
Lance Valcour had it all. Or so it seemed. A thirty-three-year career in policing, rising through the ranks to become an Inspector. A decorated veteran cop, respected as an expert in technology and information management systems, speaking and consulting to police services across Canada and around the world. A happy family, a loving wife and three amazing sons. That’s what everyone thought. That’s what everyone saw. If they only knew.
Lance joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Assocation to discuss his journey. Behind the veneer lies a deeper story of pain, anger, and a lifelong struggle with addiction and mental health. If all those cops, colleagues, clients, and even friends and family could have seen his ugly private truth, they would have detested the monster he’d become.
Lance Valcour has recently published a book with the hope to help other police officers struggling with addiction and mental health. The book is titled If They Only Knew: A Cop’s Journey with Addiction and Mental Health. It is an intensely personal story, not only of one man’s demons and depression, but also of a couple’s commitment, courage, and love, of a woman who, faced with her husband’s growing venom, anger, and cruelty, found the inner strength to stand up and say, “No more. This ends today.”
This podcast and the book explores the journey of a man who, faced with this ultimatum, eventually found the strength and courage to admit that he had a problem and needed help. Who, haunted by his own self-loathing, overcame his darkest days to find serenity, peace, and fulfillment.
Shift workers in high-stress jobs such as policing and First Responders typically over time experience low testosterone levels, which can contribute to a number of health concerns including, but not limited to, depression, fatigue, low libido, increased risk of heart attack and stroke and cancer. OPP Provincial Constable Matt Aris of the Corunna Detachment joins the 10-5 Podcast along with Pharmacist Mat Rezaei to explore the issue of low testosterone, the importance of getting levels checked and monitored, and modern treatment options for low testosterone (TRT) that can lead to improved physical and mental health.
Dr. Peter I. Collins is the Operational Forensic Psychiatrist, Threat and Behavioural Analysis Team, High Risk Offender Unit, Criminal Behaviour Analysis Section in the Investigation and Support Bureau of the Ontario Provincial Police. He joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss his highly decorated career as he reflects on semi-retirement.
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique and OPP Association President John Cerasuolo are guests on 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the highlights of 2024 for the Ontario Provincial Police and Ontario Provincial Police Association.
Topics discussed are the new Uniform and Civilian Collective Agreements, the rise in assaults on police, bail reform, the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance, Ontario Police Suicide Memorial, the Canadian Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial, National Peace Officers’ Memorial Run, the Ride to Remember, member mental health and much more.
If you have any questions about this episode, or have an idea for future episodes, please email communications@oppa.ca.
Registered Nurse Michelle Marr works for Headwaters Healthcare Centre in Orangeville as a Mobile Crisis Response Team (MCRT) Nurse in partnership with Dufferin OPP Officers.
Michelle joins 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association to discuss the success of the Dufferin MCRT program and assert her wish for sustainable funding.
Dufferin County has one of the highest call volumes for mental health calls in Ontario.
The Dufferin MCRT have not been able to deal with all of the calls due to not having 24/7 coverage.
The Dufferin MCRT have dealt with 600 calls and made 1539 referrals in the first 11 months of 2024, reducing significantly the number of hospital visits for people experiencing mental health crisis. This not only helps members of the public, it helps to prioritize hospital emergency resources, as well as valuable police resources who traditionally have to remain at hospital with persons apprehended under the Mental Health Act.
If you wish to contact Michelle or have an idea for future episodes, please email communications@oppa.ca.
The OPP Association is the sole bargaining agent for the close to 10,000 members of the Ontario Provincial Police in Canada. Our members are our focus and our strength. We aim to provide important information to our members and the public about matters that affect policing in the province of Ontario.
Dr. Frank Stechey is a renowned Canadian forensic dentist who has been involved in several criminal investigations assisting the Ontario Provincial Police, as well as police services throughout Ontario, Canada and internationally.
Dr. Stechey shares some insights on 10-5 The Official Podcast of the OPP Association about what police officers, health care and social services workers can look for to prevent, do interventions and solve child abuse, sexual assaults, homicide cases and more.
Dr. Stechey was a key member of the forensic dentistry team identifying victims after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. He discusses the victim indentification process used in the aftermath of 9/11 and opens up about some of the life long trauma that he endures from his valued service.