Running for cancer research, with a bit of police tape

Two participants run across the finish line of the 2026 Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon and 2 Person Relay at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg on May 3, 2026. (Gary Robson/CTV News Winnipeg)

Yellow police tapes were seen at Assiniboine Park Sunday morning – not to secure a crime scene, but to secure the finish line of a half-marathon.

Thousands of people gathered at the park for the 2026 Winnipeg Police Service Half Marathon and 2 Person Relay, supporting the Canadian Cancer Society’s research projects and clinical trials.

About 1,350 participated in the half-marathon, 850 in the five-kilometre run and 400 people in the relay, said Nick Paulet, volunteer race director for the event.

“The passion for the race … for myself and our core race team here goes back about 25 years,” Paulet told CTV News.

Marking the 22nd year, the run’s history can be traced back to Cops for Cancer – a national program started by Gary Goulet, then-officer with the Edmonton Police Service.

In 1994, Goulet and other officers all shaved their heads in support of a young boy fighting cancer at the time and drove him around in a police cruiser, after the boy was made fun of by other children for being bald.

Paulet said about $3.3 million has been accumulated, with possibly adding $100,000 more as of Sunday morning.

“We actually dedicate resources, specific funding for specific researchers. That way, we can sort of report back to our participants who raise the money and they can actually see where their funds are going and have a connection to their fundraising efforts.”

The result of the run is available online.