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Special Ceremony at Laurie Hawkins Public School

Friday, 11 May 2012 at 07:35

A lasting legacy to the late Laurie Hawkins. Today, a special ceremony was held at the brand new public school that bears the name of the late OPP officer. Laurie Hawkins Public School was commemorated today with a new plaque that will hang at the front of the school. As well the Hawkins family donated 2500-dollars to the school for a peace garden on their grounds. Hawkins' friend and colleague, Constable Michelle Murphy explains who Laurie was to the students of Ingersoll. "A caring, compassionate police officer who drew a hard line when it was necessary. But she was somebody that the kids could come to anytime they needed some help and advice. She just exuded that openness and the kids new that. You know, parents would call her as well, she was just that go-to person for the police service." Laurie's parents, Ben and Donna Gignac, and many other family members were in attendance from northern Ontario, and say Laurie actually wanted to be a teacher when she was growing up. Donna explains what the family is feeling today. "It's sadness of course, because Laurie is not here. But we're proud of this school and the honour they've given our daughter, calling it Laurie Hawkins Public School. She would have been so proud...and she would have been embarrassed wouldn't she? (father reaffirms)...but she would have been humbled by it all." Tragedy struck Laurie and her family in 2008 when they perished from a carbon monoxide leak in their Woodstock home. The school naming isn't the only memoriam to the influential officer. A Hawkins Family Memorial Fund raises money in the community and funds bursaries at the schools where Laurie worked, and her children attended. There's also funding for children needing sports equipment, as Laurie's late-husband Richard was an avid hockey coach. As for the school, the students are raving about the new Laurie Hawkins Public School that is over 60,000 square feet with 19 classrooms.

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