Those close to Guelph police officer Jennifer Kovach, who died on duty eight years ago, have been waiting years to honour her in a meaningful way.
As the Guelph Humane Society’s new building is up and running, they plan to name a space in the building at 190 Hanlon Creek in her honour.
“This is helping Jen in a way that's giving her a legacy but also helping the animals, so it's a win-win here,” said Ryan Truscott, a friend of the late officer.
“She just had such a passion for them so we thought this is a great way to memorialize her in a public way but still in a peaceful way that she's helping other animals.”
Kovach died in the line of duty in 2013 after she crashed into a transit bus while responding to a call for assistance by another officer.
Truscott said one never gets peace knowing that someone you were connected to went through a tragic incident.
He felt he needed to do something to remember her and so launched a fundraising campaign to honour her memory.
“Yes, they did an overpass on the 401 in her honour but that's not a personal thing. She did not like the highway, whereas she loved animals and her mother does as well and it was just the right thing to do,” said Truscott.
The fundraiser went live this week after raising $6,500 through friends and family.
“We’re hovering around the $8,000 mark and trying to get over $30,000,” said Truscott.
The group plans to pick one of three spaces to honour Kovach in the new building. The first is a parkette in the public garden, the second is a bench in the parkette and the third is the animal care office in the adoption wing of the building.
The GHS allows anyone in the community to name something in its new building. A naming opportunity guide can be seen here.
Ashley Bresnahan, a friend and coworker who worked with Kovach for over seven years at Woodbine Mohawk Park said Kovach would take great pride in knowing she has a memorial in the GHS.
“Jen previously adopted four animals from the Guelph Humane Society, a place near and dear to her heart. She truly loved animals from adopting and donating to winning a farm animal competition at the royal winter fair,” said Bresnahan.
“She was very passionate about her family, her friends, animals and her job,” said Bresnahan, remembering her friend as someone full of inspiration and fire.
