Thousands of police officers from across North America will join together in a solemn march over the Bank Street Bridge Thursday in an emotional tribute to a colleague who was killed while working on the job in Ottawa last week.
Ottawa police Chief Vern White estimates about 4,000 police officers from across Canada and the United States will attend Thursday's ceremony for Const. Eric Czapnik who was killed in an attack outside the Civic Campus of the Ottawa Hospital on Dec. 29.
Close-knit community
Supt. Charles Bordeleau, who's helping organize the event, says the presence of so many police officers demonstrates the profession's close-knit nature.
"They really understand the sense of family and the importance to come together in these types of situations to support each other and properly honouring Eric and his family," Bordeleau told CTV Ottawa on Wednesday.
He said organizing the funeral has been particularly difficult on an emotional level.
"We've organized presidential visits; we've organized large-scale demonstrations, but this certainly adds an added element around the emotions, around why we're doing this," he said.
"It's been a difficult task, but I've been so impressed with the dedication and the work our people have done and the work of the community in supporting us to make sure that it's a fitting tribute to Const. Czapnik."
Honouring a fallen colleague
Thousands of Czapnik's colleagues will join together in a march behind his casket during a funeral procession that will begin at Carleton University at approximately noon, and end at the Civic Centre just prior to 1:30 p.m.
The procession will leave the university, crossing Bronson Avenue and spilling out onto Sunnyside Avenue. It will then head northbound on Bank Street towards Lansdowne Park. Residents are invited to line the route to pay tribute to the slain officer.
CTV Ottawa will be broadcasting the ceremony live on-air and online, starting at 1 p.m. The live broadcast is expected to run until about 3 p.m.
Road closures and parking restrictions will also be in place in the area, starting at 11:30 a.m.
People wishing to attend the event are encouraged to take public transit, and are warned that traffic delays are expected throughout the city's core.
Although the funeral is public, there will be limited seating. Most members of the public will be seated in the Aberdeen Pavillion to watch the memorial on a big screen. If space is still available, some members of the public may be seated in the Civic Centre.
A private burial for Czapnik will follow at the Beechwood Cemetery. A private reception for his family and members of the police force will be held at the Aberdeen Pavilion later in the afternoon.
