The Orillia campus of Georgian College and the Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) in Barrie are the first two recipients of a memorial fund dedicated to the memory of a fallen local police officer.
The Devon Northrup Memorial Fund was set up in honour of Const. Devon Northrup, who paid the ultimate price during a shooting in Innisfil on Oct. 11, 2022 at age 33.
A beloved friend and family member, and a valued member of the South Simcoe Police Service, Northrup’s family set up the memorial fund through the Innisfil Community Foundation, who attended Georgian College’s Orillia campus Monday afternoon to disburse funds in Northrup’s honour.
Georgian College received $12,000 to issue two annual student bursaries for students in the Police Foundations and Counselling Psychology programs over the next three years. RVH received $16,457 to purchase equipment that will help patients that cannot speak communicate their needs.
“The Northrup family is grateful to the Innisfil Community Foundation for making The Devon Northrup Memorial Fund possible, as a means of continuing Devon's legacy of helping others. We are excited to be here to witness the first grant presentations from Devon's Memorial Fund,” said the Northrup family in a press release.
“These grants will provide financial assistance to Georgian College students in the Police Foundations Program, and the Honours Bachelor of Counselling Psychology Program; and will provide the Royal Victoria Hospital's Emergency and Intensive Care Units, with innovative technology to aid in patient care. We are overwhelmed by the generosity of our donors, without whom we would not be here today to see Devon's name live on in these good works. He would have been humbled to know his role in this. Thank you all so very much.”
RVH officials said the new equipment will be “life changing” for patients at the hospital, as it uses eye-tracking technology to control a speech-generating device.
“Before, our patients literally didn't have a voice,” said Katelyn Dewar, manager of donor advising with RVH foundation. “Now they can communicate not only with other health care providers, in terms of things for like pain management, or whatever their needs may be, but it also allows them to communicate with their loved ones. From an emotional and healing perspective, this is going to be life changing for folks.
“We're extremely grateful to the Devin Northrup Memorial Foundation,” she said.
Georgian officials said the new awards will be impactful for students and help commemorate Northrup’s legacy.
“These awards will generate a lot of impact here, and they're attached to two really important programs,” said David Bell, associate vice president of advancement and alumni relations at Georgian College.
“Thank you so much for investing in our students and investing in the future.”
