Our History

In 1986 several individuals got together at the Peel Regional Headquarters for the first meeting of what is now known as the Fitness Personnel of Ontario (PFPO). The moving forces behind this gathering were Marion Reeves of Peel Police, Jean Bonneau, Cst. Jan Lovekin of the OPP, Mr. Claire Shaw and Mr. Greg Currie of the Ontario Police College. They foresaw rapid changes happening the in the police field, the need to present a common philosophy and the impact such a group could have on management, associations and the individual police officer.

Present at this first meeting were representatives from the OPP, OPC, Peel Regional, Metro Toronto, Halton Regional, North Bay, and the RCMP. Following several more meetings and numerous telephone calls it was finally decided to create a formal organization. In October 1987 PFPO’s constitution was approved.

Initial projects completed in first few years included:

• the development of fitness standards for entrance and graduation from the OPC;
• the development of a 36 minute video illustrating the proper technique to administer the Canadian Standardized Test of Fitness;
• the development of the fitness award program called the Ontario Police Fitness Award;
• the staging of (3) Standardized Test of Fitness Workshops providing official accreditation to fitness evaluators;
• the staging of a PFPO fitness workshop and general assembly held June 1987 at OPC in
  conjunction with the Standardized test of fitness Appraiser workshop; and
• Several presentations to the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police (OACP), the OACP Training committee and the Police Association of Ontario.

Although this list of accomplishments is quite impressive it also provided the starting point for future projects and initiatives.

Source: Based on past PFPO newsletters