OTTAWA - On Sunday, September 27, 2009, thousands of police and peace officers from across the country will gather on Parliament Hill to honour colleagues who have died in the line of duty. The Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Peter Van Loan will participate in the 32nd Memorial Service. In the past year, 3 police and peace officers have made the ultimate sacrifice in keeping communities safe. They are:

Constable Alan Hack - July 6, 2009

(Ontario Provincial Police, Elgin County)

Constable James L. Lundblad - May 5, 2009

(Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Alberta)

Constable Éric Lavoie - September 8, 2008

(Laval Police Service)

Other historical names that were added this year are:

Forest Officer Donat F. Lalonde, June 29, 1988

(Department of Forestry, Lands and Wildlife-Alberta Forest Services)

Constable Jean-Claude Phoenix, March 31, 1978

(Saint John Police Service)

Constable Charles-Édouard Denis, July 20, 1958

(St-Joseph de Sorel Municipal Police Service)

Constable Frank Hare, June 2, 1951

(Port Dover Police)

Their names are forever etched on the glass panels erected along the perimeter wall adjacent to the Memorial Pavilion which now totals 751 fallen officers. The Service is a lasting tribute to the sacrifice of those brave men and women. "THEY ARE OUR HEROES, WE SHALL NOT FORGET THEM".

In 1998, the federal government officially proclaimed the last Sunday of each September as Police and Peace Officers' National Memorial Day. This Service gives Canadians an opportunity to express their appreciation for the ultimate dedication of these police and peace officers.