Since 1977, a memorial service has been held on Parliament Hill honouring police and federal correctional officers killed in the line of duty. It has since grown and evolved into a very professional and fitting annual tribute. The ceremony is held on the last Sunday in September.
Since 1991, the organizing committee of the memorial service has been lobbied to include all members of the law enforcement family in the ceremony. This would encompass all persons in Canada who are peace officers, reflecting the close and cooperative working relationships that often exist within the justice community.
In 1994, as a part of this effort, for the first time, a separate ceremony was held on Parliament Hill specifically for Peace Officers. The ceremony was a large success, with a permanent stone engraved with the names of 53 fallen officers unveiled.
It has always been the goal of the group which worked on the Peace Officer ceremony to combine forces with the Police Officer group to provide a combined memorial ceremony.
As of 1996, the coordination of the Memorial Service has been turned over to the Canadian Police Association (CPA) and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), recognizing that these associations represent the total police community, who are, in fact, the beneficiaries of the ceremony.
Finally as a result of all efforts, the CPA and CACP have invited peace officers to work with them to form a consortium of organizations to produce the first fully unified service, commencing in 1996.
At a meeting of representatives of the various peace officers organizations on September 14th, 1995, it was resolved to form a unified association to represent peace officers.
Canadian Provincial Police and Peace Officers' Memorials
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The New Brunswick Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Site established in 2004, |
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The Newfoundland and Labrador Police and Peace Officers Memorial Site established in 2004. The site is next to the Confederation Building (The Newfoundland and Labrador Legislature) in St. John's, Newfoundland. |
Quebec Provincial Pin remembering Diane Lavigne & Pierre Rondeau 1997.
