Remembering Service and Sacrifice
Ontario police officers who died in the line of duty were remembered on May 3 during a solemn ceremony honouring their service and sacrifice.
The 27th annual ceremony of remembrance took place at Queen’s Park.
“Not only are we here to remember the brave men and women in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice in keeping the people of our province safe,” said Premier Doug Ford. “…All the names listed on the wall shows our appreciation for the families of these officers and that we support them and will never forget.”
Solicitor General Michael Kerzner said the heroes in life left their mark and were a relentless force for good.
“They understood that a life lived in service by choosing is not a sacrifice, but an honour,” he said. “They belonged to a profession that measured them by their honesty and courage and their flash in uniform were an identity of respect, of umbilical and unbreakable strength that has permanently tied them to those who serve today and who will serve tomorrow.
“Their bravery reminds all of us to stand a little taller, act a little prouder and love the flash and uniform… Those we remember were pillars of the wilderness generation and with their passing, we feel their absence and sustained presence. Their passing is not only familial, but communal. They were the embodiment of decency.”
Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont said that every officer carries the weight and responsibility found only in service.
“They made a difference in their community, and their impact continues to be felt through the generations,” she noted. “We will leave today with the responsibility and the duty to remember.”
Ontario Police Memorial Foundation president Colin Woods reflected on the enduring meaning of remembrance and sacrifice.
“This ceremony is not a formality, and it is not symbolic alone,” he said. “It is a promise that the men and women whose names are etched into the memorial wall are never forgotten. “It is a promise that their service and their sacrifice and their humanity live on, not only in stone, but in our hearts and in our actions.”
Woods also reminded families that the memorial belongs as much to them as it does to the policing community.
“You put a human face to the face etched in the memorial wall and you remind us that behind every name is a story of love, laughter, pride and loss,” he added. “Your strength, courage and your willingness to stand with us in remembrance honours your loved ones in ways that words cannot capture.”
The names of the fallen police officers who have died on the job are inscribed on a granite wall at the Ontario Police Memorial site.
“This site stands forever as a symbol of our respect and gratitude for the service and the ultimate sacrifice of our 284 fallen colleagues,” said Royal Canadian Mounted Police Senior Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin.
The day’s events included a March Past along Queen’s Park Circle, where police officers from across Ontario, on motorcycles and marching in formation, paid tribute to the families of the fallen. This visible show of unity reinforced the collective commitment to honour those who served.
The ceremony also acknowledged both past and recent losses.
A total of 44 Toronto Police Service officers have died in the line of duty since 1908, beginning with Constable John Acton, who died months after being attacked while attempting an arrest.
A historical name was added to the wall this year.
This year, Lance Corporal John Baker of the Canadian Forces Military Police was honoured. On December 1, 1915, he was killed after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic near a military camp close to the Canadian National Exhibition.
