Cops from throughout Ontario have been operating from Toronto to Ottawa the previous few days for the Nationwide Police Officers’ Memorial Run (NPOMR).
The “Run to Keep in mind” is held yearly to pay tribute to officers who’ve died within the line of responsibility, and to boost consciousness for the Nationwide Police Officers’ Memorial at Parliament Hill.
The custom started in 2005, when a number of dozen members of the Peel Regional Police Pacers Operating staff ran the 460 kilometres from Toronto to Ottawa.
Now, nearly 20 years later, 300 officers from 30 completely different companies throughout the province take part within the run.
“This yr we’ve got 15 of our officers which are operating,” mentioned Kevin Smith from the York Regional Police.
“It is actually necessary primarily for the households, that this variety of officers come out to make sure that their family members are by no means forgotten.”
The race is a relay-style occasion, with officers having the ability to select which 10-15 km splits they want to run.
It started Thursday morning on the Toronto Police Memorial and officers made their method east by means of Whitby, Oshawa, Coburg, Belleville and Kingston, earlier than reaching Brockville on Friday evening.
The ultimate day of the NPOMR kicked off on the Brockville Courthouse, then making stops in Prescott, Cardinal, Brouseville and Kemptville, earlier than ending at Brewer Park in Ottawa.
Richard and Mary Woodland are from Spencerville, Ont. and sat on the aspect of Shanly Rd. Saturday to look at their daughter Meredith run, who’s a member of the York Regional Police.
“By the point she’s finished in the present day, she’ll have run 104 kilometres on this relay,” mentioned Richard, after watching his daughter run by.
“Rising up in Spencerville, it is very nice to run by means of the cities of Brockville, Prescott and Cardinal,” Meredith informed Ontario Chronicle after ending her second-to-last leg of the run.
“Been doing 33 km a day, legs are a bit sore. However yeah, it is superior to be out right here with everybody. It is an incredible run.
“It is all about camaraderie, bringing everybody collectively,” mentioned Adam Kimber with the Hamilton Police Service.
Kimber has been collaborating since 2018 and says operating alongside the St. Lawrence River from Brockville to Prescott is his favorite leg of the journey.
“We all the time have an excellent time down in Brockville,” he concluded.
