More than 31 years after he was killed in the line of duty, OPP Const. Eric Nystedt is being remembered with a memorial charity golf tournament in his name Sept. 5.
It is also a fundraiser for partners of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and OPP, who have been partnering since February to respond to mental health calls.
Const. Joel Imbeau is now a full-time mental health worker for the OPP in the Highlands and is helping to organize the tournament.
And while the event at the Pinestone is still seven weeks away, Imbeau is looking for 144 registrants as well as sponsors, and donors of prizes, including for the silent auction.
The CMHA-OPP program has been running in other counties since 2015, but with funding Const. Paul McDonald helped procure 2.5 years ago, they have finally implemented it in the Highlands.
Imbeau said proceeds will go to some of the organizations that OPP and the CMHA work with, such as the three Haliburton County food banks, the two heat banks, the Special Olympics, Places for People, and Born Again Bargains in Minden.
“The community has really taken this on with open arms,” Imbeau said.
He said some of the prizes includes vehicles (a Ford F-150 pickup truck and Chevy Traverse) if someone gets a hole-in-one, as well as free Godfathers pizza for a year. “We’ve got some really nice prizes.”
Imbeau said people can register for golf, a cart, and dinner and silent auction, or just come for the dinner-auction.
“These are charities we use for the program, such as the food banks. We rely on them to support the families we work with and understand there is a huge increase in demand. That includes the heat banks. We want to replenish those accounts and make sure our partners are satisfied with our contribution in making sure we can keep those relationships strong. It’s important,” he said.
Imbeau said he believes Nystedt’s mom, Mary-Lou Nystedt-Buerkle, will be attending the dinner and making a speech. Eric’s brother, Scott, may also attend. They are from Sault Ste. Marie.
According to the Ontario Provincial Police Association, Const. Nystedt had been on the job for less than three years when he was called out with a senior constable on Saturday July 3, 1993. The two officers were called twice that shift to an assault, domestic occurrence at a location near Kinmount. A man was drunk and his behaviour was said to be endangering others at a cottage in the Furnace Falls area.
At 2 a.m. the officers were looking for the suspect, who had run off into the bush after having committed an assault.
“Const. Nystedt was in the rear, passing a small clearing, when suddenly the wanted man came out from behind him and stabbed the young officer in the left leg. The knife severed the left femoral artery and Eric bled to death before he could receive the necessary aid.”
A massive search was commenced with 50 officers, a canine unit, members of the tactics and rescue unit and, later, a helicopter.
Off-duty officers converged on the area to help. Finally, around noon, the suspect came out of the bush and was arrested.
Go to hhoppcharitygolf@yahoo.com to get a registration form or for any additional information.
