Passing the Torch: Pierre and Simon Lalonde

When Pierre Lalonde first stepped into the Ottawa Police Service Communications Centre in April 2001, he had no idea that a simple act of following his father’s advice would change the course of his life — and, years later, his son’s too.  

Back then, Pierre was working in retail, unhappy and searching for something that felt meaningful. His father, already employed in the Communications Centre, told him there were openings and encouraged him to apply. Pierre didn’t really know what the job entailed — only that he was ready for a change. “Honestly, when I applied, I had no idea what the job was,” Pierre admits with a laugh. “I just disliked retail so much that I was willing to try anything. But once I started, I found my home.”  

That “home” would become the foundation of a 25-year career. From police communicator to supervisor, and eventually to shift manager, Pierre has spent decades guiding others through the fast-paced, high-stakes world of emergency communications — a job that demands calm, clarity, and compassion in equal measure.  

And now, that legacy continues through his son, Simon.  

At first, Simon didn’t imagine himself following in his father’s footsteps. Growing up, the job was simply part of his world — something normal, almost invisible in its familiarity. “I never really saw it as a possible career opportunity,” Simon says. “It’s not something a lot of people even know exists. But whenever I was in there, it just felt normal.”  

When it came time to decide what to do with his life, that sense of familiarity — of belonging — began to take shape. “Working for the police just felt right,” Simon explains. “It’s meaningful work. Someone’s got to do it.”  

Now starting his career in the Police Reporting Unit (PRU), Simon is part of the first line of contact for many residents reaching out for help. He doesn’t yet know if he’ll end up in the Communications Centre like his father, but for now, he’s exactly where he wants to be. “At first, my end goal was comms,” Simon says, “but I realized I just want to do the best I can wherever I am. I really like it in PRU right now.”  

Pierre recognizes something special in his son — a quiet steadiness that feels familiar. “This might sound like bragging,” he jokes, “but I see a lot of my own qualities in him — being calm and cool under pressure. Nothing really phases us. When you’re calm, you can calm others, whether you’re dispatching or on the phone. The energy you bring changes the person on the other end.”  

That calm, it turns out, might just be hereditary. Simon credits his ability to stay composed not to any lessons learned, but to the example set for him. “I think I get it from him,” he says. “Even when I was going through hard times, I was always good at understanding how I felt and figuring out what to do. At work, even with tough calls, I don’t really feel stressed. I stay grounded.”  

Pierre nods at that. “He’s always been grounded,” he says. “Even when he was little, his calmness helped me stay calm. Maybe I get it from him, too.”  

The two share more than temperament — they share values. For Simon, watching his father navigate years of challenging calls and critical decisions taught him something vital: the importance of judgment, empathy, and instinct. “My dad just knows what to do,” Simon says. “Even when something unexpected comes up, he figures it out. I try to do that too — not just follow the rulebook, but make sure I’m actually helping people. Because if you’re not helping, what’s the point?”  

Pierre smiles at that, proud yet protective. Like many long-time members of the service, he hesitated when his son said he wanted to join. “When he first told me, I tried to convince him not to,” he admits. “Not because it’s not rewarding, but because it changes you. The job can be heavy. No one calls us because they’re having a good day. You have to be ready for that.”  

But once Simon made it clear his heart was in it, Pierre focused on the positives — the sense of purpose, the teamwork, the privilege of helping people when they need it most. “There are so many benefits,” Pierre says. “It feels good to make a difference, to provide something useful to society. That’s what keeps me going — trying to make the workplace better every day, leaving it better than I found it.”  

Simon understood that balance — the realism and the optimism — and it only solidified his choice. “If anything, hearing about the hard parts and not letting them change my mind helped me realize that I really wanted this,” he says. “It’s not about the pay or the pension, even though those are great. It’s about knowing I can help people who really need it.”  

For the Lalondes, this is what “passing the torch” really means: not just following a career path, but inheriting a sense of calm in crisis, pride in service, and compassion for people at their most vulnerable.  

Three generations of Lalondes have served the Ottawa Police Service, each answering the call in their own way and helping the people of Ottawa get the help they need, when they need it most.

A shared legacy of service, compassion, and calm — passed down, one call at a time.