Circumstances

Constable VanBreda became a member of the Niagara Regional Police "Force", as our Service was known back then, on December 3, 1984, assuming the title of Cadet. She was only 20 years old at the time. From October 21, 1985 to December 20, 1985, she attended the Ontario Police College and successfully completed the recruit constable training course and subsequently assumed the rank of Police Constable. Upon return to our Service she was assigned to St. Catharines Uniform Patrol Duties.

On Wednesday September 24, 1986, Constable VanBreda and her partner were working a night shift within the City of St. Catharines. They were in a marked police vehicle assigned general patrol duties. They attended a minor two vehicle motor vehicle collision. Constable VanBreda walked from her police vehicle then crossed the roadway when she was struck by a motor vehicle being operated by an impaired driver. Constable VanBreda was thrown 15 metres before impacting the trunk of her police vehicle and falling to the ground.

Constable Joan Theresa Van Breda was found unconscious on the ground just east of the roadway, suffering from critical life-threatening injuries. Constable VanBreda's injuries were extensive.

Postscript

Constable Van Breda was only 22 years old at the time of the collision. Her path to recovery was filled with both achievements and tribulations, however; ultimately due to ongoing medical issues as a result of being struck by a motor vehicle died May 22, 2020.