A small crowd gathered at the unveiling of the Peter Greenlaw Memorial Panel along the Trans- Canada Trail Pavilion in Rotary Peace Park early Friday afternoon.

They honoured the memory of Peter Greenlaw, a longtime Yukon-based RCMP officer who died in September 2005.

A press release from the Klondike Snowmobile Association, of which Greenlaw was president for about 10 years, said the panel is to 'recognize Peter's love of nature and his enjoyment of sharing with family and community that spawned his vision to connect Yukon to the nation-wide recreation trail.'

Greenlaw spent 20 years as an RCMP officer in the Yukon, primarily in Whitehorse and Dawson City.

He was an active community member who was involved in sports, music, and arts and drama programs for youth.

He was also a resident expert on a number of substance abuse committees, including the Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Society Yukon.

Greenlaw was dedicated to the creation of the Millennium Trans-Canada Trail, a project he was working on even in the weeks leading up to his death.

His widow, Deborah Greenlaw, attended the unveiling with her children Sheena, 15, and Graydon, 17.

She said her late husband 'would probably be overwhelmed by (the unveiling of the panel).'

She added the Trans-Canada Trail project was 'very important to him. It was based upon family involvement and community involvment. It gave youth something to do and something to be proud of.'

Greenlaw said some of her late husband's physical abilities became limited because of his illness, so he focused his energy on the political issues involved in the creation of the trail instead.

RCMP Cpl. Grant MacDonald, who attended the unveiling, said Greenlaw was a dedicated husband, father and police officer.

'He educated youth about the harms of drugs,' said MacDonald. 'He was dedicated to music and arts at Wood St. (Centre). He was all about community.'

James Clark, the national trail director for the Trans-Canada Trail, said 'it brings me great honour to come up here (from Calgary) to do a ceremony like this.'

Clark said Greenlaw was a longtime volunteer for the local portion of the trail, so they thought it would be appropriate to dedicate a panel to his memory.

Clark added that Greenlaw 'would be looking down on us (during the ceremony) in approval, because it's a beautiful winter day.'

Deborah Greenlaw said it was wonderful to see people at the ceremony who had known her husband through his involvement as drug awareness co-ordinator for the RCMP

'It wasn't just people using trails (who attended),' she said.

Greenlaw died at age 49 of a rare disease called Wegener's Granulomatosis. The condition restricts blood flow to vital organs by causing an inflammation of the blood vessels.

'The spirit of Peter Greenlaw shines on brightly, guiding all who follow the trail, now and in the future,' said the press release.