Canada honours Police and Peace Officers’ National Memorial Day

CITYnews halifax / By Rachel Morgan

For the 26th year in a row, officers and their families have gathered to honour those who have lost their lives in the line of duty and offer condolences to their surviving loved ones.

The day has come to be nationally recognized, with ceremonies happening all across the country.

“On this day, we honour police and peace officers who lost their lives while serving their communities,” Governor General Mary Simon wrote in a press release. “These individuals devoted their lives to ensuring that others could live theirs without fear. They bravely stood for justice while faced with harrowing circumstances.”

One of the most stark examples of recognition was the 20th anniversary National Peace Officers’ Memorial Run which brought together police and peace service forces to relay in teams 460km from Toronto to Ottawa between Thursday and Saturday, arriving to honour those on Parliament Hill today.