Memorial run held in honour of slain OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala
Family, friends and police from across the province paid tribute to a fallen officer in his hometown of Barrie, Ont. on Saturday.
OPP Const. Greg Pierzchala's loved ones held an inaugural memorial run in his honour.
"He may have been our brother, a son, but he was also an outstanding student, a friend, a cousin and a police constable," said Justyna Pierzchala, Greg's sister. "Greg certainly loved his job and everything that came along with it."
Saturday's run comes just days after Sgt. Eric Meuller was shot and killed while on duty outside Ottawa. Two other officers were seriously injured. Runners taking part in the memorial run passed a Canadian flag that had been lowered to honour Sgt. Meuller.
The Commissioner of the OPP was at the run and addressed what has been a tragic year for policing.
"We have had nine police officers murdered in this country since September, 5 of those have been right here in our own province," said Commissioner Thomas Carrique. "This has to end, and today is the day for a new beginning. Today is an opportunity to celebrate our police officers."
Pierzchala was shot and killed in the line of duty on December 27 near Hagersville, Ont.
The funds raised from the run will be used to establish a scholarship for a student at St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School, where Greg once attended.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
They were due to leave for their dream cruise in May. Three months on they’re still stuck at the departure port
It was the years-long cruise that was supposed to set sail, but saw its departure postponed… postponed… and postponed again.
Ontario's first domestic case of human rabies since 1967 confirmed in Brant County
An Ontario resident remains in hospital after testing positive for rabies.
How to get a whole city to stop lawn watering? Experts say praise over punishment
For almost two weeks, a city of 1.6 million people has been told once again to stop watering lawns, take three-minute showers, hold off on laundry and dishes, and let the yellow in their toilets mellow.
4-year-old drowns in backyard pool on Montreal's South Shore
The lifeless body of a child was discovered in a residential swimming pool in Longueuil, on Montreal's South Shore, late on Friday afternoon.
Trudeau insists he's staying on as Liberal leader. But what if he changes his mind?
The Liberal caucus is set to meet in Nanaimo, B.C., next week for a retreat ahead of the fall parliamentary sitting. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau insists he will lead his party into the next election despite polls citing his unpopularity among Canadians. Here's a look at what would happen if he decided to call it quits.
Two astronauts are left behind in space as Boeing's troubled capsule returns to Earth empty
Boeing's first astronaut mission ended Friday night with an empty capsule landing and two test pilots still in space, left behind until next year because NASA judged their return too risky.
Despite union protest, new hybrid work rules for federal employees kick in Monday
Public service unions will start the week with an early-morning rally opposing the policy. But despite the unions' 'summer of discontent' and an ongoing court challenge, the new rules will still kick in on Sept. 9.
Georgia school shooting suspect was troubled by a broken family, taunting at school, his father said
Both Colt, 14, and Colin Gray, 54, are charged in the killings of two students and two teachers Wednesday at Apalachee High School in Barrow County, outside Atlanta.
Biden's disastrous debate performance offers lessons for Harris and warnings for Trump
The first and last debate between Biden and Donald Trump started a chain reaction leading to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris replacing Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket.