Highway Six – Centre Street in Espanola was lined with people, children, and adults alike to pay honour to a Manitoulin OPP officer who was killed in the line of duty last week.
The Espanola Fire Department, Manitoulin-Sudbury DSSAB, hospital workers, Legion members, and veterans, even OPP and RCMP officers from Sault Ste. Marie and East Algoma came to say good-bye to Constable Hovingh.
One of the officers asked if The Moose would say thank you on behalf of Hovingh and his fellow officers to the hundreds who attended.
His cavalcade started in Toronto at noon yesterday with literally hundreds of people and services paying tribute to the officer who died in the line of duty last Thursday.
His escort passed through communities including his hometown of Barrie, Sudbury, Espanola and finally in Little Current.
The Island Funeral Home says visitation will take place this Friday at the Mindemoya Missionary Church from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm with COVID-19 protocols in place.
A funeral by invitation only will take place on Saturday with burial to follow in Hilly Grove Cemetery.
There are plans to broadcast the funeral virtually.