Final details have been released about the public funeral for Guelph Police officer Jennifer Kovach, including the news that only 1,000 members of the general public will be allowed into the Sleeman Centre for the event.
The funeral for the 26-year-old constable, who died while on-duty in a traffic accident on March 14, will bring about the closure of several streets in the downtown area, with thousands expected to attend the event.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne is among the dignitaries expected to attend, along with emergency services personnel from across the province.
The event is scheduled for 11:30 a.m., but the public is being asked to arrive early, between 9 and 10 a.m. Public access will only be through Old Quebec Street, at Gate 5 on the second level, a news release said.
Overflow seating will be available at the River Run Centre, where the service will be broadcast on projector screens, it said. The funeral will also be aired live on Rogers TV, and audio will be aired to the Old Quebec Street Mall.
A motorcade will leave the funeral home on Gordon Street at 10 a.m., making its way to the downtown. At the same time, a police procession will leave Guelph Police headquarters, heading from Farquhar Street to Wyndham Street, north to Woolwich Street and south to the Sleeman Centre.
Sections of Wyndham and Woolwich Streets will be closed to traffic and parking will not be allowed. Roads will reopen mid-afternoon.
Surrey Street between Gordon and Wyndham Street will also be closed for most of the morning.
People are being warned to expect traffic delays on Gordon Street between College Avenue and Wellington Street between 8 a.m. ant 10 a.m. as police personnel are shuttled from parking lots at the University of Guelph to the downtown, the release said.
The shuttles and overflow parking for the funeral at the university are for emergency services personnel attending the funeral and not for the general public, the release said.
The public is being asked to use public transit and carpooling as parking will be restricted around the Sleeman Centre and police headquarters, it said.
Following the funeral, people should expect traffic delays along Woolwich Street and Norfolk Street, starting around 1:30 p.m., as the funeral procession makes its way from downtown to the cemetery at Woodlawn Road, it said.
The city has set up a temporary public information line, which will be available today (Wednesday) and Thursday between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. for any questions about the funeral, visitation, road closures or other details associated with the funeral. The number is 519-822-2222.