Corrections Division Remembers the Fallen
May 17, 2012
On Thursday May 10,
2012, OPSEU’s Corrections Division held first annual
Correctional Peace Officers memorial on the steps of
Queen’s Park to pay respect to those who lost their
lives in the line of duty performing corrections work in
institutions and the community.
Over 100 Correctional
Officers, Probation and Parole officers, Transport
Officers and Youth Services workers from across Ontario
stood in remembrance to those who paid the ultimate
sacrifice. Representatives from Monteith, North Bay,
Sarnia, Penetanguishene, Lindsay, Toronto, Thunder Bay
and more gathered to share in the memory of their fallen
brothers and sisters.
OPSEU President
Warren (Smokey) Thomas and Eduardo Almeida, 1st
Vice-President/Treasurer attended the event, along with
Bob Bailey, the Progressive Conservative MPP for
Sarnia-Lambton, Madeleine Meilleur, Minister of
Community Safety and Correctional Services and Steve
Small, Assistant Deputy Ministry of Correctional
Services.
Dan Sidsworth, MERC
Co-Chair, opened the ceremonies.
“On the honour rolls
that hang in the hallways of our workplaces, are written
in proud and everlasting memory the names of those who
gave their lives in the defense of the Citizens of
Ontario and their fellow Peace Officers who served with
them, for the sacred liberties of all humanities,”
Sidsworth said. “Today we gather on the front lawn of
our legislature, for the first time, as Peace Officers,
Probation and Parole, Youth Services Officers and
Correctional Officers, as Peace Officers do in other
provinces and territories.”
Community Safety and
Correctional Services Minister Madeleine Meilleur
addressed the gathering by offering her condolences to
those family and friends who have lost a loved one in
the line of duty.
“This ceremony is a
tribute to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
The government and the people of Ontario have great
respect and appreciation for those who have given their
lives to keep our province safe.”
Representatives at
the memorial took the opportunity to speak to ongoing
issues in corrections, especially management’s
attendance programs and use of force investigations.
“The nature of our
work puts us in highly stressful and dangerous
situations,” Sidsworth said. “We need proper protocols
in place that recognize the situations we face and don’t
add unnecessary stress to officers dealing with
traumatic incidents.”
Smokey Thomas voiced
his support for the Corrections Division saying that
OPSEU and the Executive Board would ensure that members
get the backing they need.
“I worked in an
institutional psychiatric hospital for most of my life,”
Thomas said. “I lived through many, many use of force
investigations. I can speak from personal experience
that a lot of us went through a lot of hell. We are in
this together, whatever you need, we will certainly work
hard to achieve.”
OPSEU’s Corrections
Division will make the memorial service an annual event,
and hopes to one day have a permanent plaque placed at
Queen’s Park.
