About 300 runners started their journey from Queen’s Park in Toronto Thursday morning for a memorial run to Ottawa, honoring police officers who lost their lives while serving.
This year, the event pays tribute to seven officers who passed away in the last year, including Toronto Const. Marc Pinizzotto, OPP Sgt. Brandon Malcolm, and OPP Const. Tarun Bali.
Among those gathered were family members and colleagues of some of the fallen officers, many wiping away tears during the opening ceremony.
The 22nd annual National Peace Officers Memorial Run kicked off with a five-kilometre run open to the public before remaining participants continued on in the three-day trek to Ottawa.
The run serves not only as a remembrance for fallen officers but also honors their families and highlights the impact on the community, said runner and Toronto Supt. Michelle Olszevski.
The memory of the day Pinizzotto died remains fresh for Toronto police officers, particularly those on the emergency task force, she noted. He was shot in June during a police raid connected to several shootings in the city.
“There’s really no words to express the impact that it has on all of us,” Olszevski said. “It’s something that never leaves you.”
Runners stand outside ahead of the 22nd annual memorial run in honour of fallen police officers in Ontario. (Paul Smith/CBC)
Linda Pinizzotto mentioned that her family is struggling after her son’s passing but managing as best they can. She shared that her son had a calling to be a police officer and loved his work.
“It’s never easy when you lose a child,” she said, adding that support from both law enforcement and the wider community has felt like a much-needed embrace, especially during Thursday’s run.
“Every single hug out there is the biggest, most sincere hug and embrace that anyone can give out,” she said. “That just blew me away.”
Run Represents Police Sacrifice: Toronto Chief
Premier Doug Ford spoke at the event emphasizing how vital it is to continue raising awareness about and honoring those fallen officers who dedicated their lives to protecting communities across Ontario.
“Our province, our country owe an incredible debt of gratitude,” he stated. “We’ll never be able to forget the sacrifice each of these names has given to their community.”
Toronto police Chief Myron Demkiw expressed that this has been a “particularly difficult year” for law enforcement personnel. The significance of this year’s run feels heightened following recent events like the shooting at Salsa on St. Clair and an officer being injured earlier this week in Belleville, Ont., Demkiw explained.
“The run itself is quite symbolic when you think about it,” he remarked. “Every single day, police officers run towards danger when others are running away.”
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