Carl Swanson is one of 95 names that have been added to the Ontario Provincial Police Pathway of Memories.
Swanson was a detective-constable who worked for the OPP from 1968 to 1995. A mechanic by trade, he worked in the undercover auto squad.
Swanson, who lived in Simcoe County, died earlier this year.
“He was one of those guys that was bigger than life,” said his cousin, Peter McWood, who made the trip from Newmarket to attend the unveiling of the new stones Tuesday at OPP General Headquarters in Orillia.
“He was a big man. He had hands twice the size of mine. He was just one of those guys you always thought was going to be around.”
Swanson’s family purchased the stone to be placed in his memory.
“He’d be honoured that they’ve done this for him. It’s a very nice way to remember him,” McWood said.
The Pathway of Memories was unveiled last year with 226 stones. After Tuesday’s event, there are now 321.
The stones bear the names of people and organizations that have connections to the OPP. Some honour officers who have died, while others recognize people who are still living and have contributed to the force in some way.
The stones cost $300 each, with proceeds going to the OPP Youth Foundation.
“The pathway provides an opportunity to express a memory in a tangible way,” said Dave Lee, chair of the OPP Youth Foundation, which provides camps, bursaries and other opportunities to young people in need.
He told the crowd gathered in front of headquarters that some of them would recognize the names of those connected to the force.
“Many others will feel overwhelmed to see and touch a stone laid in honour of a loved one,” he said.
Dave Osborne, a member of the OPP Youth Foundation board of directors and project lead for the Pathway of Memories, now has three stones with his name on them. He bought the first one, which recognizes his time as an OPP inspector. His neighbour bought the other two — one to recognize Osborne as a “good neighbour,” as he used to shovel her driveway, and the other to honour him, his wife and their sons.
Osborne was happy to contribute to a cause like the OPP Youth Foundation and to have his name added to the Pathway of Memories.
“The OPP is a great organization. There are 9,000 employees and over 2,000 retired members, 700 to 800 auxiliary members,” he explained. “We provide a great service to Ontario, and having an ability to recognize people for that is really important.”
OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique agreed.
“I can’t think of a better initiative by ensuring that our partners, our members are recognized through the Pathway of (Memories),” he said.
“This is how history is made. This is how legacies are built.”
There are guidelines for those wanting to purchase stones. Find out more here.
For more information on the OPP Youth Foundation, click here.
