Sadly, horribly, there will be several names added to the Cenotaph, Honour Roll and Memorial Wall. Many don’t know that the RCMP honours its own fallen members in a service separate from Remembrance Day. It is held the second Sunday of September. Last year it was held virtually. The decision was made not to add names until the service could be held properly after COVID-19 restrictions were no longer in effect. Last year the names of Constable Allan Poapst who died in a collision with a pickup truck on the Winnipeg’s Perimeter Highway. and Constable Heidi Stevenson who died in the rampage by a gunman in Nova Scotia which left 22 people dead. When the service can be held the name of Constable Shelby Patton will be added after he was run down while conducting a traffic stop on a vehicle in Wolsley Saturday morning. Honouring fallen members is woven throughout the RCMP Academy, Depot Division. Cadets walk on streets that bear the names of the fallen and learn to march in front of the RCMP Cenotaph. All I know is I grew up with police officers and they have a hard job, as any first responder does. And we all need to be thankful we have these highly individuals who are willing to answer that 911 call when it comes in.

That’s Coffee Talk, I’m Vanese Ferguson.