June 2026
On 7 June, the third annual Ontario Police Suicide Memorial service was held on the grounds of the Ontario Legislature at Queen’s Park in Toronto. Unlike the existing police memorial, which pays tribute to police officers killed in the line of duty, the Ontario Police Suicide Memorial pays tribute to those who died “Because of the line of duty.”
Organized by Toronto Beyond the Blue, the Toronto chapter of Canada Beyond the Blue (CTTB), a national non-profit organization with chapters across Canada, that has been advocating for the establishment of a permanent, physical monument to officially memorialize police officers who have died by suicide.
Dilnaz Garda, the current President of Toronto BTB, and Vice-President of Canada BTB, was the main speaker at the ceremony, something that she fought hard to bring to fruition. Garda is also the sister of Toronto Police constable Darius Garda, who died on 3 February 2016, consumed by PTSD brought about by the guilt he felt as a result of a fully justifiable shooting in 2009, involving a man suffering a mental health crisis.
During her address, Dilnaz advised the assembled crowd that she hoped to finally present the design proposals for a physical monument that will permanently honour those who have died “Because of the line of duty” by next year’s service. The construction of the physical monument should begin sometime after that.
Inclusion of the Suicide Memorial is done by nomination, along with the consent of the surviving family, not automatically as with the Ontario and Canadian monuments to police and peace officers who died in the line of duty. A doubly tragic aspect to the memorial is that there are many officers who died “because of the line of duty” and should be memorialized, but never will. Suicide is still a sensitive and taboo subject for many people and some families still haven’t come to terms with what happened to their family member.
To date, 56 officers are listed on the memorial. Two more were added this year: Provincial Constable Cindy MacKenzie, Ontario Provincial Police (2010) and Constable Rick Sziklai, Woodstock Police (2025).
The Ontario Police Suicide Memorial is an important element in bringing awareness of Operational Stress Injuries and the negative toll it can take on police and peace officers.
Visit Beyond The Blue | Support to Police Members and Their Families for more information.
Also read: Because of the line of duty – Honouring Ontario police officers lost to suicide – Canadian Military History (2025 Ceremony).
