The Sarnia Police Service joined officers from across the province on May 3, 2026, to honour fallen members during the 27th Annual Ontario Police Memorial Foundation Ceremony of Remembrance in Toronto.
Held at Queen’s Park, the solemn event recognized the sacrifice of 284 officers who have died in the line of duty across Ontario. Participants included Ontario’s Lieutenant Governor Edith Dumont, Premier Doug Ford, Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, and RCMP Senior Deputy Commissioner Bryan Larkin. The day’s events included a March Past along Queen’s Park Circle, where officers from across Ontario, on motorcycles and marching in formation, paid tribute to the families of the fallen.
The ceremony serves as a reminder of the risks officers face, including the two members from Sarnia who lost their lives in the line of duty. Constable Lewis was killed on May 23, 1936, after being shot during a response to a robbery. Constable Vanderveer died on March 22, 1944, when his motorcycle collided with a train while he was pursuing a vehicle.
This year, the Ontario Police Memorial Foundation added a historical name to the memorial wall: Lance Corporal John Baker of the Canadian Forces Military Police, who was killed on December 1, 1915, after being struck by a vehicle while directing traffic near a military camp close to the Canadian National Exhibition.
Foundation President Colin Woods reflected on the meaning of the day, saying, “This ceremony is not a formality, and it is not symbolic alone. It is a promise that the men and women whose names are etched into the memorial wall are never forgotten.”
