Board Members

Directors

Director: G. Shawn Coady, MOM CD

Shawn joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1990 after four years with BC Corrections at the Lower Mainland Regional Correctional Centre (Oakalla). During his 30 years with the VPD he held a variety of roles and positions from Patrol Officer, Bicycle Officer, Beat Team Officer, Jail and Public Service Counter Officer, and was also a member of the Public Safety Unit (Crowd Management Team). After 11 years in Operations, he transferred to Investigations and became a Domestic Violence Unit Detective. He was promoted and worked in the Vancouver Jail and Station NCO for three years.

In 2008, Shawn went to work with the RCMP Integrated Security Unit for two years leading up to the 2010 Olympics. He returned to the VPD as the Subject Behaviour Officer Response Report Co-ordinator as well as the coordinator for the Missing Women Inquiry. In 2011 he became the Coordinator for the Public Safety Unit in charge of Administration, Training, Operations and Logistics. Shawn’s final role in the VPD was with the Health and Safety Unit of Human Resources. He officially retired in May of 2020.

Shawn is the creator of the Memorial Ribbon and has been involved with the BC Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial since 1998, serving as coordinator for two of the events held in Vancouver. In May of 2010 Shawn became a Member of the Order of Merit (MOM) for Police Services, due to his continued work on the Ribbon Society, receiving his award from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michelle Jean, Governor General of Canada.

Shawn has volunteered for the Society since its inception in 1994, and was the driving force in making the Ribbon the official symbol of mourning for all Law Enforcement in Canada. Shawn helped establish the Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial Ribbon Society as a national charity, with a key objective being the raising of funds for the Memorial Ribbon Scholarship for children of fallen officers.

Director: Jarret Chow

Jarrett Chow joined the West Vancouver Police Department in 2001. Over the course of his career Jarrett has worked in Patrol, Firearms training, Surveillance and as a K9 handler. Jarrett currently serves as the Department Sergeant Major and is part of the steering committee for the annual BC Law Enforcement Memorial Parade. Jarrett is dedicated to preserving the memory of those who have fallen in the line of duty and ensuring their legacy is not forgotten.

Director: David Douangchanh

David joined the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in 2004 and has worked in a variety of operational, administrative and instructional positions. David joined the RCMP’s Ceremonial Troop in British Columbia early on in his career and represents the RCMP at both national and international events.

The majority of David’s service has been in British Columbia with the exception of his time served as an instructor at the RCMP National Training Academy – Depot Division, in Regina, Saskatchewan. During his time as an instructor at Depot, David served as a Drill Instructor.

David is currently responsible for ceremonies, protocol, dress and deportment for the RCMP in British Columbia in which he is considered a subject matter expert. David is extremely passionate about honouring the fallen and working with their families to ensure the fallen members are properly recognized for their service and contribution to Canada.

Director: Ray Gardner

Ray Gardner joined the Vancouver Police Department in 1995 as a reserve member, and then in 1999 he became a full-time Constable. Over the course of his career, he has worked in Patrol, Community Policing, and Investigations.

Ray is a member of the Public Safety Unit, Ceremonial Unit, and the Military Liaison Unit. He currently serves as the Departmental Sergeant Major and is actively engaged in projects that focus on the memory of fallen officers.

Director: Barbara Guenther

Barbara has been a Border Services Officer with Canada Border Services Agency since July 2002 and has been an active member of the CBSA Honour Guard since 2003.

Barbara became a Director of the Police & Peace Officers’ Memorial Ribbon Society in January 2010 and has been involved in many of the projects and endeavours of the Society towards honouring and remembering Canada’s fallen officers and their families.

Director: Ross M. Gulkison, MStJ

Now retired, Ross’s civil service extends over thirty-four years and includes corrections, sheriffs, police, federal investigations, and the militia. His proudest moments were his military commission and later his appointment in 1993 to Chief of the former Sto:lo Justice Service, by Ovide Mercredi, Grand Chief of the National Assembly of First Nations, Canada.

Ross is the cofounder of the Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Ribbon Society. In 1993 Ross lost an officer under his command, Officer James Adams, and as a result Ross fully understands the grief, sorrow and hardship that the families, colleagues (Brothers and Sisters), communities, and Canada as whole must endure whenever an officer is killed in the line of duty. Ross believes that it is our duty as a nation “to remember our fallen heroes”.

Ross remains a proud member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, serving in his eighteenth year, and looks forward to many more years of the international fellowship he has experienced with the IACP. Ross is also a volunteer on several other boards.

Director: James Pearson

James Pearson has been employed by the Vancouver Police Department since May of 1992 where he has been involved in patrol, undercover drug units, grow-busters, crowd-control, the Ceremonial Unit, and Emergency Operations and Planning. He was instrumental in creating the Military Liaison Unit which is a first in Canadian policing. Prior to his enlistment with the VPD he enjoyed a 10 year career with the Canadian Military where he joined as a non-commissioned member and worked his way up the ranks to obtain a Queen’s Commission.

James is currently appointed as Vancouver’s Departmental Sgt/Major, working out of the Operations Division.

Director: Jim Pyke

Jim Pyke joined British Columbia Corrections in 1994 and has been involved with the BC Provincial Law Enforcement Memorial since the first parade in 1998.

In 2008, he was invited to become a Director of the Police and Peace officers Memorial Ribbon Society after being a “Friend” of the Society since 2000. He currently works at Surrey Pre-Trial Services Center and is a founding member of the Center’s Local Honour Guard which was founded in 1998. In 2007 he became a member of the newly formed BC Correction Provincial Honour Guard.

Jim was awarded the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012 for his work with the Honour Guard and for promoting the Memorial Ribbon as a national symbol of mourning for Fallen Police and Peace Officers across Canada. He has attended many Services and events both in Canada and in the United States to honour Fallen Officers. In 2019 he was awarded the Corrections Exemplary Service Medal.

Director: Adam Webber

Adam joined the Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) as a Correctional Officer in May 2002 and currently works in Abbotsford BC. In 2003 he joined the CSC Guard of Honour and in 2004 he was appointed as the Institutional Squad Leader for his Institution.

Adam has participated in many National and International Ceremonial events and has been a volunteer steering committee member of the BC Law Enforcement Memorial since Feb 2014. In April 2011 Adam was appointed as the Regional Sergeant-Major for Pacific Region and in June 2017 he was appointed by the Commissioner of CSC as CSC’s National Command Sergeant-Major.

Adam also serves as a Commissioned Officer with the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve (CIC) and spent his youth as a Royal Canadian Army Cadet. Adam volunteers with Cops for Cancer, the Abbotsford International Airshow and has volunteered with the Police and Peace Officers Memorial Ribbon Society since 2015.

Adam’s Honours and Awards include the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) The CSC Commissioners Commendation (2017) and the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers (2019).

Director: Noelle Wilson

Biography to come.

Chaplain

Jim Turner

Jim served as pastor at three churches over a period of twenty years of pastoral ministry. In addition he has taught at Northwest Baptist Theological College and served in executive positions in the regional and national Fellowship of Evangelical Baptist Churches in Canada.

Jim has served the law enforcement community in a voluntary capacity for over thirty-five years. Jim served with the RCMP as Chaplain for five years in “K” Division, specifically Calgary Sub-Division. Upon moving back to BC in 1995, Jim began serving at Burnaby, Richmond Detachments and E” Division HQ. On October 23, 2000 Jim left full time pastoral ministry in a church setting and was appointed as the first Divisional Chaplain for “E” Division. In February of 2001 Jim was appointed as Chaplain at Delta Police. In February of 2003 Jim was appointed as the Chaplain at Vancouver Police. In 2004 Jim was appointed to serve Transit Police as well.

Jim continues to serve the great people of the law enforcement community.

Officers of the Society

President

G. Shawn Coady, MOM CD

Vice-President

Ross M. Gulkison, MStJ, SMOTJ

Secretary

Jim Pyke

Treasurer

G. Shawn Coady, MOM CD

Friends of the Society

Don Moser

Don Moser served on HRP’s Emergency Response Team for 11 years and in 2007 was commissioned as an Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.In 2014, Don was named the first-ever Departmental Sergeant Major at Halifax Regional Police and, as a senior officer, continues in an advisory role on such issues as protocol, dress and deportment. He actively serves on various committees and associations, including the Nova Scotia Fallen Peace Officers’ Memorial Committee, Halifax Regional Police Wellness Committee, Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association and the Canadian Association of Police Ceremonial Units. Don actively volunteers with Nova Scotia Special Olympics and the United Way (Halifax).

Don is a graduate of Dalhousie University where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in police science. He subsequently received various certificates from both Dalhousie University and the Canadian Police College. He was a co-recipient of the Halifax Regional Police Investigator of the Year Award, a Halifax Regional Municipality Director’s Award for Leadership, and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Frances To

Frances’ passion for her community started at a young age when she volunteered for Junior Achievement. She has since raised monies and awareness for several charities and causes. As the wife of a Member, she believes in the work and importance of policing and hopes that her involvement with the Memorial Ribbon Society will help bring a positive impact to the community.

Deepak Prasad, ADC, BCECR

Originally from Burnaby, BC, Deepak currently lives in Antigonish, NS, serving with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Prior to joining the RCMP, he served 2 years with Canada Border Services Agency and 5 years as an emergency police dispatcher at ECOMM/911 in Metro Vancouver.

Deepak is a graduate of Kwantlen University College and the Justice Institute of British Columbia and holds a board certification with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress in the field of Emergency Crisis Response.

Deepak is a member of several charitable organizations that support crime prevention programs and mentor-ship towards youth. He has received several awards including the Commander’s Decoration of Bravery, Caring Canadian Award, St. John Ambulance Life Saving Award, Minister’s Crime Prevention Leadership Award, Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal and the Order of St. John. Deepak is also an Honourary Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia.

Siobhan Coady

Siobhan Coady grew up in the military, served 5 years with the Reserve Electronic Warfare Squadron in Kingston and returned to University in 2003 to obtain a degree in Disability Studies. She continues to live in Kingston and works as a Senior Executive Assistant in a Human Resources department.

With 20 plus years of working in both the public and private sectors, Siobhan prides herself in providing excellence in customer service. She has very strong personal and professional work ethic, enjoys working with diverse groups of people and truly loves giving back to her community through volunteerism. Siobhan has supported the Ribbon Society since its beginnings and has attended a number of functions as a volunteer and supporter in an effort to get the information out to the public.

Jeremy Loewen

Jeremy started as an intern with the RCMP in Altona Manitoba in 1997. In 1999 he became an Auxiliary Constable with the Altona Police Service, until becoming a Constable with the Morden Police Service in 2004 and attended training in Brandon Manitoba. Jeremy is currently assigned to General Patrol duties and investigations.

In 2011 Jeremy and Dane combined their passion of honouring fallen police and peace officers with that of their passion of fishing and held the first annual “Fishing for Fallen Heroes” fishing derby in Pointe du Bois Manitoba, raising money which was donated to the Memorial Ribbon Society. In 2012 Jeremy and Dane continued with the 2nd annual event raising more money for the Memorial Ribbon Society making it a very successful fundraising event to honour the ‘fallen heroes’.

Dane Demianiw

Dane worked for the Winnipeg Downtown Watch from 1995 until 2001. He then worked for Child and Family Services until 2007 when he became a Constable with the Morden Police Service and attended training at the Winnipeg Police training academy. Dane is currently assigned to General Patrol duties and investigations.

Marc Hallé

Marc Hallé began his policing career in January of 2009 as a Provincial Constable with the Ontario Provincial Police. He first served the communities of Grenville County before working in the united counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, once again assigned to general patrol.

Prior to his policing career Marc served as a Combat Engineer with the 3rd Field Engineer Regiment in the Canadian army reserves.

Throughout the years, Marc has also been involved with different youth groups. He now wants to continue his community involvement through the Police and Peace Officer Memorial Ribbon Society.

Gary Cook

Gary started his policing career joining the Canadian Armed Forces as a Military Police Officer in 1975, posted to CFB Edmonton, Alberta.

Gary left the Canadian Armed Forces in 1979 to join the Edmonton Police Service. His 37 year career spanned Patrol Operations, K-9 Officer, Detective positions, Undercover Stolen Auto detail, Training Section, a one year secondment to the United Nations Mission In Kosovo, and Patrol Sergeant. Gary was appointed to the position of Corps Sergeant Major of the Edmonton Police Service in 2014. Gary retired from policing in 2016.

Gary has been an integral part of the Alberta Police Peace Officer Memorial Committee, working with the Solicitor General and various Alberta agencies for many years, and continues in that capacity. He was the initiator of the Alberta Sergeant Major’s Group in 2015.

In June 2015, the Edmonton Police Service was confronted with the Line of Duty Death of Cst. Dan Woodall. This was the first LODD in 25 years for the Service. As the Corps Sergeant Major, Gary was responsible for all things Parade/Ceremonial.

Gary is the recipient of the Peacekeeping Medal, UNMIK Medal, Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, the 40 year Police Exemplary Conduct Medal and the 40 year Alberta Police Long Service Medal.

Gary has always been a strong proponent of honouring our fallen officers, and assisting the families in their loss. The Memorial Ribbon Society allows him to continue that passion.

Torin Coady

Torin was born and raised in a policing family. Being the son of Shawn and Diane, he has been involved with the Police and Peace Officers’ Memorial Ribbon Society since its inception in 1994. Over the years Torin has moved from being a spectator at parades and memorials to a valued volunteer, to now representing the Society on Vancouver Island and managing the Society’s social media communications.

Gord Eiriksson

Sergeant Gord Eiriksson is a 20 year member of the Calgary Police Service (CPS) and as part of his duties as the Sergeant in the Office of the Regimental Sergeant Major, is the CPS’ Funeral Coordinator.

Prior to joining the CPS, Sgt. Eiriksson was a licensed funeral director and embalmer in Manitoba and Alberta for 12 years. Shortly after joining, the CPS suffered two separate Line Of Duty Deaths within 13 months of each other. Due to his experience in the funeral service profession, Sgt. Eiriksson was asked to assist with the funeral arrangements. Since that time, Sgt. Eiriksson has overseen all funerals for police officers, both active and retired, and for civilian members of the Calgary Police Service.

Sgt. Eiriksson has been in involved in planning over 450 police funerals for active and retired members and other high-profile individuals, including:

EMS Paramedic and Canadian Armed Forces Reservist Mike Starker, killed in action in Afghanistan
Peace Officer Rod Lazenby, killed in the line of duty
Correctional Officer Lisa Zoerb, killed in the line of duty
former Alberta Premiers Ralph Klein and Peter Lougheed

Sgt. Eiriksson is an Instructor on both the National Canadian Police Ceremonial Training Course and the CPS Death Notification Course, and has spoken at the National Funeral Service Association of Canada Conference. He is part of the CPS Mass Casualty Response Team and is the founder of the CPS Chaplaincy Program. He was part of the design team for the Calgary Police Service Chapel and funeral coach “Skye Boat”.

Sgt. Eiriksson is also working to establish a Family Liaison Officer Program within the CPS.

Past Board Members

Director: Les Allen (2002-2004)
Director: Michel Funicelli (1998-2002 & 2005-2010)
Director: Jean Galvin (2002–2019)
Director: Sylvain L’Heureux (2010-2014)
Director: Mike McCarthy (2002–2019)
Director: Marco Plante (2014–2019)
Director: Daryl Tottenham (1998-2003)
Director: Chaplain Jim Turner (2002-2022)
Director: Bob Underhill (2006-2013)
Director: Kelly Watson (2004-2006)

Past Friends of the Society

Darrell Gaudet (2013-2017)
Marc Halle (2012–2018)
Sylvain L’Heureux (2014-2017)
Jeremy Loewen (2011–2019)
Gord Tomlinson (2010-2017)