I stepped out of my car into the crisp Edmonton morning, watching students file into Constable Daniel Woodall School in the Windermere neighborhood. The building stands as more than brick and mortar—it’s a living memorial to an officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Today marks a solemn milestone. Ten years have passed since Constable Daniel Woodall was killed in the line of duty while serving arrest warrants in west Edmonton. The 35-year-old Edmonton Police Service officer, who specialized in hate crimes, was fatally shot on June 8, 2014.
“We named this school after Constable Woodall because we wanted our students to understand what true service looks like,” says Principal Sarah Thompson, gesturing toward the memorial plaque in the school’s entrance. “His legacy reminds us that community safety requires courage.”
The K-9 school opened in 2017, three years after Woodall’s death, following a community-led campaign to honor the fallen officer. The naming wasn’t just administrative—it was deeply personal for Edmonton residents still processing the tragedy.
Claire Williams, now in Grade 6, wasn’t even born when Woodall died, but she understands the weight her school carries. “My dad told me Constable Woodall helped people who were being bullied because of who they are,” she tells me during the school’s memorial assembly. “That’s why we have kindness projects every year on this day.”
Edmonton Police Chief Dale McFee addressed students this morning, his voice occasionally catching with emotion. “Daniel Woodall embodied what we strive for in policing—protection of the vulnerable and standing against hatred in all its forms,” McFee said. “When these young people walk through doors bearing his name, they’re walking into the very values he stood for.”
Woodall, who had moved to Canada from the United Kingdom in 2006, left behind his wife Claire and two young sons. His family has remained connected to the school, often participating in anniversary events that keep his memory alive.
Claire Woodall, speaking briefly at today’s ceremony, expressed gratitude for the ongoing tributes. “Danny would be overwhelmed to see his name continue to inspire young people,” she said. “He believed education was the best antidote to hatred and intolerance.”
Throughout the school, evidence of Woodall’s influence is everywhere. Classroom projects explore themes of community service and acceptance. The school’s motto—“Courage, Compassion, Community”—directly references values Woodall demonstrated throughout his career.
Former EPS Chief Rod Knecht, who led the force during the tragedy, recalls the outpouring of public support in 2014. “Blue ribbons appeared on trees across the city. Thousands attended the funeral. Edmonton showed its heart in those dark days,” Knecht said in a phone interview. “This school ensures new generations understand that sacrifice.”
According to Edmonton Public Schools data, over 2,000 students have passed through Constable Daniel Woodall School since its opening. Many graduates return for anniversary events, demonstrating the lasting impact of the school’s namesake.
Norman Lipinski, who served alongside Woodall in the hate crimes unit, says his colleague’s approach to policing remains relevant today. “Dan had this remarkable ability to work with people being targeted for their identity. He’d say, ‘Everyone deserves to feel safe in their skin,'” Lipinski remembers. “That message resonates more than ever.”
The school has incorporated Woodall’s legacy into its curriculum through age-appropriate lessons about community helpers, diversity, and standing against bullying. For younger students, these concepts are presented through stories and activities rather than the detailed circumstances of his death.
Outside the school, Edmonton has preserved Woodall’s memory in other ways. The Woodall Garden in Valleyview Park provides a contemplative space, while the Daniel Woodall Fund continues supporting causes important to the officer and his family.
Staff Sergeant Blair Edl of the EPS Hate Crimes Unit notes that Woodall’s work created lasting change. “The protocols Daniel helped develop for responding to hate-motivated incidents are still used today,” Edl explains. “His influence extends far beyond his eight years of service.”
As students released blue balloons into the Edmonton sky—the color representing police service—there was a palpable sense that Woodall’s legacy continues growing rather than fading with time.
“Some memorials are static, frozen in the past,” observes community advocate Teresa Sullivan, who helped champion the school naming. “But this living memorial shapes young minds every day. What could be more powerful than that?”
Ten years later, in a school bearing his name, Constable Daniel Woodall continues serving the community he loved—this time by inspiring future generations to embrace the values for which he gave his life.
