Poised to honour 130 officers Sunday in the provincial capital, the annual British Columbia Law Enforcement Memorial Service held an added sombre note just days after losing an officer.
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Two short days after the shooting death of Metro Vancouver RCMP Const. Rick O’Brien, 51 officers marched the streets of Victoria to gather for the ceremony Sept. 24 at the monument behind the B.C. legislature, 501 Belleville St. Called the bastion, the provincial monument unveiled in 2004 is dedicated to officers who lost their lives in active service.
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This year it honoured the 131 officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, including Burnaby RCMP Const. Shaelyn Yang who was added to the Roll of Honour. Yang, 31, was stabbed to death on Oct. 18, 2022.
The memorial coincides with the National Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial held in Ottawa, also on the last Sunday in September.
We had words from Chaplain Doreen
— BCLEMemorial (@BCLEMemorial) September 25, 2023
Charette, Chaplain Inderjeet Singh, & Chaplain Junaid Kahn.
“Comfort & grace to be upon all those who have lost loved ones in this year, and in years past. We stand united with the families whose loved ones have laid down their lives in service." pic.twitter.com/5wmDAB1RGD