Members of the public will soon be able to honour Const. Rick O鈥橞rien in a way the sports fan would have appreciated, thanks to a memorial ball hockey tournament recently announced by the Joint Forces Foundation.
The Ridge Meadows RCMP constable was tragically shot and killed during a search warrant execution in Coquitlam on Sept. 22, 2023.
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Now, the Joint Forces Foundation wants to give not only the people of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, but also Coquitlam and 91原创, which is where O鈥橞rien lived with his wife and kids, the chance to celebrate the legacy of O鈥橞rien while having some fun on the court.
Const. O鈥橞rien鈥檚 wife Nicole Longacre-O鈥橞rien has been instrumental in creating the tournament known as the Cst. Rick O鈥橞rien Joint Forces Jamboree.
鈥淭he idea came from a conversation Rick and I had about 5 years ago,鈥� said Longacre-O鈥橞rien.
鈥淲e had talked about putting on a floor hockey tournament that had youth and police officers playing on the same team. We never really did anything about it, it was just an idea we had talked about when he was on UCRU [Uniformed Community Response Unit]. So when he passed away, my immediate thought was, 鈥業鈥檓 going to do it babe! I鈥檓 going to create the event that we always imagined, in your honour鈥�.鈥�
She said that putting this event together has helped her process her grief and fulfill her late husband鈥檚 wish to bring together youth and law enforcement to build relationships and trust with the next generation.
鈥淏uilding his legacy is the most important and most meaningful task I can do,鈥� said Longacre-O鈥橞rien.
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Although registration for the tournament only opened up on March 1, there has already been quite the outpouring of community support, explained Longacre-O鈥橞rien.
鈥淭he response has been amazing but I鈥檓 not at all surprised because Rick was just as amazing and people saw it. People want to make good come from a horrible tragedy. I am so grateful and my heart is so full with all the businesses and people who have reached out wanting to help support me bring this idea to fruition.鈥�
While there will be plenty of ball hockey played during the memorial tournament, Longacre-O鈥橞rien said that the event is so much more than just that.
鈥淲e will have our First Responder Zone where families can come talk with all our first responders and check out all the cool vehicles that these heroes use on a daily basis,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e also have our Kids Zone where we will have bouncy castles, bungee run, velcro wall, obstacle course, and sumo suits. And when everyone gets hungry, we also have food trucks available too.鈥�
But before all of that, the event will kick off with an opening ceremony that will share Const. O鈥橞rien鈥檚 story and explain the importance of the event.
At the Cst. Rick O鈥橞rien Joint Forces Jamboree, teams will be formed for the six to nine, 12 to 14, and 15 to 18 age groups, with each team combining local youth and police officers. Each team will play two games, with all skill levels accepted.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions, with interested individuals invited to email alysen.cox@rcmp-grc.gc.ca.
Anyone interested in sponsoring the event can send an email to nicobrien22@gmail.com.
The tournament will take place at Planet Ice in Maple Ridge from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 25.
Residents of Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, 91原创, and Coquitlam can register at .
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Longacre-O鈥橞rien said that while she鈥檚 very excited about the ball hockey tournament, it鈥檚 not the only thing she has planned.
鈥淭he jamboree is only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to things that I鈥檒l be doing to honour my husband,鈥� she said.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 deserve to lose him. The communities didn鈥檛 deserve to lose him. He was one of the good guys that truly wanted to make a difference. So I鈥檓 going to do what he set out to do, make positive change and create lasting relationships between youth and law enforcement.鈥�
