Walk to remember

A pledge to protect and serve can be dangerous and difficult.

That’s why police, correctional and military personnel across Canada walk to remember on the last Sunday in September every year.

“We do this to honour and remember those who have died in the line of duty,” Thunder Bay Police Services chief J.P. Levesque said. “It serves as a reminder how dangerous this profession can be and how difficult it can be.”

Members from several police services, as well as military and correctional officers marched together from the provincial courthouse on Arthur Street to St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Levesque said it’s always great to see his officers out to support those who have fallen.

“I’m very proud of all of our officers and all the hard work they do and to see our counterparts from other police services and the military, it means a lot,” he said.

Levesque thinks in an age of greater scrutiny the job only gets more difficult with time.

“Society has changed and we’ve had to change with it,” he said. “The profession has evolved.”

The service honoured Const. John Kusznier who was shot and killed in the line of duty outside of the Landmark Inn on Jan. 15, 1978. He is the only Thunder Bay officer to have done so. That’s still too many though police services board chair Coun. Joe Virdiramo said.

“That’s one officer too many.”

Virdiramo said it’s important that community show that it supports its officers. The parade is a small way to show appreciation.

“Day to day they put their lives on the line to keep us safe,” he said.