Ontario Police Suicide Memorial Honours Officers Lost

Policing members, families, and friends gathered on Sunday, June 7 at Queen’s Park for a ceremony of remembrance honouring Ontario police service members who have died by suicide to support surviving families and to prevent further tragic deaths.

The audience paused to remember those we lost, standing alongside their families, friends, and colleagues. Together, they reaffirmed a shared commitment to supporting mental health and wellness across the policing community. Their lives mattered, their service mattered, and they will always be remembered.

“Together we are proving that healing is possible, that support matters and that no police family should ever have to walk this journey alone,” said Dilnaz Garda, who founded Canada Beyond the Blue after she lost her brother Darius, a Toronto police officer. “We remember, we honour and we speak their names.”

Canada Beyond the Blue, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening the families of law enforcement officers, established the Ontario Police Suicide Memorial and continues to organize the annual event to honour those who have been lost while advocating for greater mental health awareness and support.

The memorial also served as a reminder of the sacrifices made by police officers and the importance of ongoing mental health support within the profession.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford paid tribute to the officers being remembered, saying their service and sacrifice continue to leave a lasting impact.

“Let me assure you that their legacy of excellence, their commitment to service and the sacrifice your loved ones made will never be forgotten,” Ford said.

Mark Baxter, president of the Police Association of Ontario, echoed the message, emphasizing the need to break down stigma surrounding mental health struggles among first responders.

“We remember them, we carry them with us and we recommit to a future where every member knows that asking for help is a sign of strength and that no one faces their darkest moment alone,” he said.

For more information visit the Ontario Police Suicide Memorial webpage.