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HEARST, ON, /CNW/ - Ontarians from all over the province were
given a unique glimpse of history as the OPP launched its historic
Commemorative Patrol from Hearst, Ontario today.
OPP Commissioner Julian Fantino and Community Safety and Correctional
Services Minister Rick Bartolucci joined other dignitaries, media
and people from all walks of life, including members of Ontario's
First Nations and Franco-Ontarian communities, to celebrate one
of the most unique and memorable signature events planned for the
OPP 100th Anniversary year (2009).
The Commemorative Patrol involved extensive planning by The OPP
Museum, the two patrol officers themselves and many other members
of the OPP, supported by Chocpaw Expeditions, who are providing
the dog sled teams, equipment and a guide for the officers. OPP
Constables Guy Higgott and Erik Howells were visibly exhilarated
as they departed in their reproduction period uniforms (1922-1939),
each with their own dog sled team, on their challenging three-week
adventure into Ontario's northern wilderness.
Between today's launch and the patrol's final day on February 20th,
Higgott and Howells along with a guide, will have covered approximately
1,000 kilometres by dog sled and snowshoe, and a return journey
from Moosonee to Cochrane by rail - three modes of transportation
that were used for policing Ontario's northern communities in the
1920s and 30s and, in some cases, still used today.
During their journey, they will be using traditional equipment and
putting their wilderness survival skills to the test as they traverse
rugged winter terrain by day, and endure frigid night-time temperatures
by night while sleeping in tents on the trail.
"Northern Ontario's vast landscape can be unforgiving and travellers
and settlers soon realized that, had they not quickly learned about
and adopted the technologies and practices of Aboriginal peoples,
they would have perished, said OPP Commissioner Fantino.
"This was also the case for early OPP patrols and our Commemorative
Patrol will be an excellent example and reminder of what our officers
had to endure in order to provide safe communities for northern
Ontarians in the early part of the 20th century," added Fantino.
"The OPP forged deep roots in northern Ontario in the force's early
years, and that was an extremely difficult task, given daunting
challenges including extreme cold and vast distances between communities,"
said Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci.
"The Commemorative Patrol serves to honour the tireless work of
the OPP over the decades, to ensure northern Ontario remains a safe
place to live," he added.
The patrol team will be making community stops in Kapuskasing, Timmins/South
Porcupine, Cochrane and Moosonee before making their way back to
Cochrane on the Polar Bear Express on the last day of the patrol
(February 20, 2009). (See attached Backgrounder for route map and
community stop details).
Constables Higgott and Howells are looking forward to providing
progress reports over the course of their journey, from both the
trail and at the planned community events.
Reports and images of the Commemorative Patrol, as well as additional
information about the OPP 100th Anniversary will be posted to the
OPP's 100th Anniversary website at
www.opp100.ca and also be featured
in The OPP Museum's displays at OPP General Headquarters just outside
the museum's gallery.
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