(LtoR) OPPA Director Mike Adair, Sergeant Steven Large and spouse, OPPA President Rob Stinson, PC Graham MacGregor and spouse, OPPA Directors Terri Hubbert and Lynn Neale 

South Porcupine OPP Provincial Constable Graham MacGregor has been named as a 2022 Police Association of Ontario (PAO) Police Hero Awards recipient in the “On-Duty Difference Maker-Uniform Officer” category. 

In 2022 a total of thirty-six Ontario Provincial Police officers and civilian memebers were nominated for Police Hero Awards by members of the public.

PC MacGregor was presented the honour at an Awards Banquet held May 19, 2022 at the Police Association of Ontario’s Annual General Meeting. The event was attended by representatives from 45 local Police Associations from across Ontario, including OPP Association President Rob Stinson, OPPA Directors Terri Hubbert, Mike Adair and Lynn Neale, at the Marriott Hotel in Kingston, Ontario. 

The award 2022 On-Duty Difference Maker – Uniform Officer is awarded annually to a police officer in Ontario who has gone above and beyond the expectations of the job while on-duty. The Police Assocation of Ontario stated in a media release “The support Graham offered and continues to offer his nominator after going through major trauma as a victim of trafficking has helped her through her recovery from addiction, allowing her to now help others. Graham, known as “one of the good guys”, has gone above and beyond the call of duty.” 

This is the second consecutive year that an OPP officer has been named for this award. Sergeant Steven Large of the 1000 Islands OPP Detachment in Lansdowne was named the On-Duty Difference Maker – Uniform/Sworn Police Officer for the PAO Police Hero Awards in 2021. Sergeant Large was present at the banquet on May 18th in Kingston as well, as a number of the awards could not be presented in person for the past few years due to Covid-19 restrictions.

On March 10, 2020, Sgt. Steven Large with the Ontario Provincial Police utilized quick thinking to rescue a fisherman who had fallen through the ice into the St. Lawrence River off Landon Bay while ice fishing. Sgt. Large risked his own life by undertaking a precarious water rescue using an available canoe on shore and sliding it across the ice to the fisherman in distress. This was the second time is Sergeant Large’s career that he risked his life to save people from freezing waters, going above and beyond the call of duty. 

Our OPPA members go above and beyond to serve and protect the citizens of the province of Ontario each and every day, stated OPP Association President Rob Stinson.  “It was an honour to witness PC Graham MacGregor and Sergeant Steven Large receive recognition for going above and beyond the call of duty. Congratulations to both of them, and congratulations to all of our members who were nominated for the Police Hero Awards. Congratulations to all of the award winners and nominees across the province, and thanks to all members of our policing family who go above and beyond the call of duty twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Together we are stronger.

We are so happy to honour our brave members by showing them how greatly their actions have impacted others,” said PAO President Mark Baxter. “All of our sworn and civilian members go above and beyond every day and put their safety on the line to ensure the health and well-being of others – often to the detriment of their own. The fact that so many members of the public come forward every year to tell stories about their police heroes is incredibly telling. I honestly wish we could give out more awards. It gets harder and harder every year to make a selection, but the PAO is honoured to help facilitate the public in at least being able to acknowledge a few police heroes. Every police employee is a hero in my books.

Harry de Jong, the co-editor of our OPP Association Magazine “OPP Beyond The Badge” has an coveted award in his honour for Police Association service called the “Harry de Jong Awards”. Harry was honoured for his selfless service at last night’s banquet as well with a 35yr service award from PAO President Baxter. Congratulations Harry. 

Harry De Jong is editor of OPP Association’s magazine “Beyond The Badge”. The Police Association of Ontario’s coveted Harry De Jong Awards honour Police Association service. Tonight PAO President Baxter honoured Harry for 35yrs of service of his own. Congrats Harry & thank you 💙