MANITOULIN—The Marc Hovingh Memorial Ride event name has now changed to expand the ride awareness to remember all officers who have died in the line of duty in the Northwest and Northeast Regions of Ontario.
“For the past two years the Marc Hovingh Memorial Ride has taken place on Manitoulin Island, remembering and honouring Marc’s life and service. This year we are expanding the ride awareness to memorialize all officers who have died in the line of duty in the Northwest and Northeast Regions of Ontario under the ‘Tour De Force Heroes in Life Cycling Series’ banner,” a release noted. On November 19, 2020, Ontario Provincial Police Constable Marc Hovingh died protecting and serving the communities of Manitoulin Island.
“We saw a need to reach out and expand our reach to a greater number of community officers,” Adam Belanger, provincial coordinator, told The Expositor. “We want to reach all police services in the Northeast and Northwest regions.”
The money raised for this ride will again be going to benefit youth across Ontario, through the Ontario Provincial Police Youth Foundation. “The ride funds go to the OPP Youth Foundation, a provincial charity that provides money to schools and communities, supporting up to $500 for each youth that a submission for funding help is made to,” said Mr. Belanger.
The Tour De Force, Heroes in Life Cycling Series-Northwest and Northeast Region Ride will take place on Manitoulin Island on September 9-10. Participants will pay a registration fee of $50. Participants can take part in the long ride (140 kilometres) starting at 9 am on September 9 from the Mindemoya arena, with the medium length ride (80 kilometres) ($40 for participants) beginning at 10 am, and the fun, family and friends ride taking place at 11 am ($25 per participant). The latter is a 30-kilometre loop with lots of refreshment stops and smiles on the way.
“We’ve always hung around for a couple of days, with the ride on Sunday always being a private ride. We will be opening this ride up on Sunday again to everyone, although it is not ostensibly as flexible as the Saturday rides, as it will only include an 80-kilometre ride,” said Mr. Belanger. “We have a lot of interest already,” said Mr. Belanger. “We will have good representation from policing biking teams, and the general public again this year.”
You can make a donation as well if you are unable to attend or can help even more. The registration link is https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/ontario-provincial-police-youth-foundation/events/tour-de-force/
