JASON SETNYK
For the first time ever, Cornwall hosted a graduating class of Ontario police recruits as part of the Basic Constable Training (BCT) program. The milestone was marked with a formal March Past and Review Ceremony at the DEV Hotel and Conference Centre, which served as a temporary satellite campus for the Ontario Police College.
Over the course of 13 weeks, more than 120 recruits completed their training as part of an initiative to expand policing capacity in the province. A standout moment included a tribute to fallen Canadian Armed Forces member Corporal Randy Payne. His mother, Nancy Payne, was in attendance as the 2025 National Memorial Silver Cross Mother, an honour awarded annually by the Royal Canadian Legion to a mother who has lost a child in military service. In a deeply moving gesture, recruits dedicated part of their ceremony to her son’s memory, reinforcing the program’s focus on remembrance, honour, and duty.
Ontario’s Deputy Solicitor General for Community Safety, Mario Di Tommaso, addressed the recruits and their families with remarks emphasizing the gravity and responsibility of modern policing. “This tradition symbolizes the readiness and the dedication of a new generation of officers,” said Di Tommaso. “It marks a significant milestone in your journey to serve and protect the people of Ontario.” Di Tommaso acknowledged the pressures and demands officers will face, calling on recruits to lead with integrity and professionalism. “Policing is a physical and mentally demanding job,” he said. “It will be important to make time for family, friends, and the activities that bring you joy. You will face challenges, and you may not always have all the answers, but what matters most is that you always act with integrity. Because integrity is not only the right path; it is the only path on which you will never get lost.”
He also noted how modern officers must navigate an increasingly complex landscape shaped by evolving technology. “Artificial intelligence is transforming industries, including policing,” he said. “But AI doesn’t knock on doors, it doesn’t comfort victims, and it doesn’t build trust. That is what you do. That is why you matter.” Chief Eric Stubbs of the Ottawa Police Service also addressed the graduating classes, remarking on how far policing has come and the new challenges today’s officers face. “The public is watching. Expectations are high-but you are smart, capable, and ready,” he said. “Every generation of police officers finds a way to rise to the challenge. Yours will too.”
Recruits from multiple Ontario services participated in the ceremony, including Thunder Bay Police, Ottawa Police, and Durham Regional Police. Classes 2541 through 2546 were honoured for their achievements, with individual platoons recognized for excellence in drill, dress, and deportment. The graduation also included Indigenous elements, including the presentation of the Ontario Police College People’s Staff, a traditional symbol created and gifted by Elder Jordan Williams in 2023. During the ceremony, the Eagle Staff was positioned alongside the official colours, a gesture of respect and cultural inclusion.
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