On Sunday, September 30, 2001, Island Correctional Staff will attend a special memorial service in Ottawa to commemorate fallen Canadian police and peace officers. National Memorial Day offers Canadians an opportunity each year to honour the dedication of police and peace officers who made the ultimate tragic sacrifice to keep our communities safe. On September 24, 1998, the Government of Canada officially proclaimed the last Sunday in September of every year as Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day.
Four Correctional Officers and One Youth Worker will be attending the Memorial Service in Ottawa representing the Community and Correctional Services Division of the Office of the Attorney General.
"I am sure that the services this year will have special significance due to the tragic events in the US on September 11," says Attorney General Jeffrey E. Lantz. "This service is an opportunity to honour those who have lost their lives in the line of duty while remembering the key role that police and peace officers play in maintaining the safety of our communities."
Representing Prince Edward Island at the service are Correctional Officers Camille LeDrew, Provincial Correctional Centre; Mike McIver, Prince Correctional Centre; Merrill Oatway, Provincial Correctional Centre; Gordon Foster, Prince Correctional Centre; and Shawn MacDonald, Youth Worker at the Tyne Valley Youth Centre.
"While this memorial offers peace officers from across Canada the opportunity to honour fallen comrades, it is also an opportunity for peace officers to discuss working environments and participate in professional development," says Minister Lantz.
For the fourth year in a row, attendance at the Memorial Day Service is co-sponsored by the Union of Public Sector Employees (UPSE) and the Office of the Attorney General.