By Kaitlyn Clark
The Haldimand Press
DUNNVILLE—While Officer Greg Pierzchala entered the news following his untimely death when he was shot and killed while on duty outside Hagersville on December 27, 2022, the OPP and the Pierzchala family are making sure he is remembered and honoured for the positive impacts he made in life.
“The term ‘Get After It’ is something that Greg lived by and would say to encourage others. He was dedicated to physical fitness and mentally strong, and being the best that you can be, both as a police officer and a person. He would encourage others to pursue this as well,” explained Adam Belanger, Provincial Coordinator of the Ride Smart Cycle Education Program for the OPP, as well as Captain of the OPP Cycling Team. “On April 15, we will be ‘Getting After It’ and riding in memory of Greg’s life and service.”
The “Getting After It” Greg Pierzchala Memorial Ride will see cyclists travel along Lake Erie this Saturday, raising funds for the OPP Youth Foundation in Pierzchala’s memory. Registration opens at 9:30 a.m. with an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. There are three routes offering varied distances, with the event open to both people in the policing community and the general public. The 80km cyclists will be sent off first at 11 a.m. by the Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner’s Own Pipes and Drums. This group will send off the 40km and 20km cyclists at 12 noon.
“All the rides are fun rides – it is not a race,” noted Belanger. “The opportunity allows people to ride in memory of Greg’s life and service and provides an opportunity for the cyclists to show support to Greg’s family, through their effort.”
Pierzchala’s family will be attending the event, both as part of the opening ceremonies and with Pierzchala’s sister and two brothers joining in for the ride to honour their brother.
Dunnville was chosen as the location of the ride for a special reason, as Belanger explained, “In the early months of 2022, Commissioner Tom Carrique and Provincial Constable Greg Pierzchala met each other in the most unlikely of locations. The Commissioner was on time off, and was cycling along Lake Erie in Haldimand County and came across an officer seated in an OPP cruiser. They shared a quick conversation with each other. Neither of them realized that their paths would tragically cross again within the year. The meeting place of Commissioner Carrique and Constable Pierzchala is part of the route that everyone will be riding.”
The 20km cyclists will start at the Disciples Conference Grounds, 1899 Lakeshore Road, and finish their ride at the Dunnville Farmers Market. Meanwhile, the 40km and 80km distances will both start at the market, head west along Lake Erie through Haldimand, and loop back to finish their ride at the market.
Funds raised from the event will support youth, a fitting tribute to Pierzchala. Belanger noted that the ride planning team have connected with the OPP Youth Foundation and with Pierzchala’s high school – St. Joan of Arc Catholic High School in Barrie – to identify “five youth needing assistance to participate in activities either in the school or in their community” that the ride will support. In general, money raised from the ride will go to the efforts and work being done through the OPP Youth Foundation, which Belanger noted “provides funding to support opportunities for youth to participate in such cultural and sports programs as: amateur sports (figure skating, hockey, soccer, swimming, football etc.); auxiliary education programs (reading programs, chemistry clubs etc.); skills development (singing, dance, model building, carpentry, sewing etc.); nature and Outward Bound programs; and boys and girls clubs.”
Those interested in supporting the cause can get more information and sign up or donate online at canadahelps.org/en/charities/ontario-provincial-police-youth-foundation/events/getting-after-it-greg-pierzchala-memorial-ride.
There is a $20 cost for the 20km distance and a $40 cost for the 40 and 80km distances, which include a pair of special event socks with Pierzchala’s badge number and both the Canadian and Polish flags. Those unable to attend the event are also welcome to enter a donation of their choosing and are encouraged to ride where they live at whatever distance they choose. So far, the event has raised 30% of its $20,000 goal with 113 attendees registered as of April 11.
