Ride to Remember honours fallen officers

Several fallen police and peace officers will be remembered tomorrow, Sept. 22, during the 22nd Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Ride to Remember.

According to a release, the 700-kilometre bike ride honours officers who have made the ultimate sacrifice to their community. 

“This year's ride was delayed a day out of respect for fallen Toronto Police Service Constable Andrew Hong's funeral,” the release states. 

The ride starts at the Ontario Police Memorial, 22 Queens Park in the City of Toronto, at 7 a.m. and concludes Saturday, Sept. 24, at 3 p.m. at the Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial in the City of Ottawa.

The ride won't be the only event honouring those who have passed in the line of duty, with law enforcement officers across Ontario participating in a three-day run which will start and finish in the same location as the ride. 

The run was created in 2005 when a small group of Peel Police Officers wanted to raise awareness of the annual memorial service and the officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty, and has grown to over 200 runners covering the 460-kilometre route each year.

Thursday afternoon, runners will arrive west of Port Hope on Highway 2, continuing into Cobourg. On Friday morning, runners set out at 7 a.m. on Highway 2, east of Cobourg and continue towards Brockville. On Saturday, runners start at 8 a.m., heading east on Highway 2 from Brockville.

Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) request that motorists be aware of the runners and vehicles on the highway to ensure that everyone using the highway arrives safely.

In partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police Youth Foundation, the Ride to Remember team will also donate new bicycles to children along the way, including stops in Colborne, Belleville and Napanee.

The purpose of the ride is to raise awareness of the annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Service, where we pay tribute to more than 860 fallen officers. 

The 45th annual Canadian Police and Peace Officers' Memorial Service will occur at Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, Sept. 25, at 11 a.m.

This year's ceremony will honour the lives of fallen heroes:

• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Alan Poapst
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Heidi Stevenson
• Ontario Provincial Police Constable Marc Hovingh
• Calgary Police Service Sergeant Andrew Harnett
• Royal Canadian Mounted Police Constable Shelby Patton
• Toronto Police Service Constable Jeffrey Northrup