Brampton Park Named for Northrup

On April 25, a ceremony was held at Northampton Park in Brampton, where the officer lived with his family, to mark the name change to Northrup Park.

On July 2, the veteran officer and his partner were responding to a 9-1-1 call for a robbery in progress when a vehicle struck them in an underground parking garage. He succumbed to his injuries.

Chief James Ramer said Northrup’s service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.

“Jeff was noble, brave and compassionate and he inspired countless officers over his 31-year tenure with the Service,” the Chief said. “He not only loved his job, but took immense pride in serving and protecting our communities. While the circumstances bringing us together stem from tragedy, today’s announcement is a testament to the outpouring of support for the sacrifices our officers like Jeff make every day to help keep our neighbourhoods safe.”

Having a beautiful park like this one bear his name, noted Ramer, creates a place where Jeff’s family, friends and colleagues can come together and remember everything that made him special.

“While Jeff is no longer with us in person, we can find peace knowing his memory will live on among his loved ones, colleagues and his community,” added the Chief. “Today, we can celebrate Jeff’s dedication, hard work and his many personal and professional accomplishments. We can honour his life by looking out for one another, by appreciating those we care about and by devoting ourselves to our communities with empathy and compassion like Jeff did.”

A plaque commemorating the park to Northrup is positioned at the base of a tree his widow, Margaret, said was sturdy and strong just like her husband.

“Jeff and I bought our first home, our current home, 21 years ago,” she said, noting his deep roots in the community. “We wanted a place that we could feel comfortable raising a family. As our children grew, we sought them organizations that we could be involved in, taking part in our community. Even with Jeff doing shift work through his career, any time off was spent volunteering his time mentoring and encouraging young people and forming lifelong relationships and very special friendships.”

Mayor Patrick Brown said Northrup’s sudden death was a devastating tragedy for the Brampton community, which Northrup was an active member for two decades.

“It was also a true loss for the country and we continue to feel that loss,” he said. “He is remembered for his unwavering commitment to the community, dedication to his team and as a loving father, husband and son. We thought that this park would be a fitting tribute so that what he meant to our community is remembered forever. When children come to this park and ask their parents about this park, they can be told the story of a local hero who meant so much to Brampton and the City of Toronto.”

Northrup, whose daughter is a Special Olympics athlete, was a Special Olympics and lacrosse coach as well as a Scouts Canada leader.

He was also affiliated with the 2nd Bramalea Scouting Group for 11 years.