When we arrived, we started to hear people talking on their cell phones expressing surprise and dismay about an 'event' that had taken place that morning. The words 'gunman', 'lock-down', were overheard in peoples' conversations.
Before long we discovered that a gunman had stormed the Parliament Building in Ottawa and in the process had shot dead a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is close by. The gunman was taken on by a Sergeant at Arms and killed but not before entering the building and shooting off a number of rounds.
This event, which might seem to be almost 'routine' in the USA severely shocked the peaceable Canadians who really felt that their security had been breached and that this sort of thing is anything but common here. There had, it is true, been a couple of incidents recently when Mounted Police had been killed by what appeared to be deliberate running down by a vehicle.
The Canadian media dealt with this incident in a sober way which cased much discussion on the CBC talk shows. There were comparisons between the Canadian reporting and the US reporting, the latter being rather more hysterical and rather less accurate than their northern colleagues. The usual quandary was examined, tell people 'something' quickly and never mind the accuracy or wait and try to give an accurate report. Canada tends towards the latter. Did the authorities give enough information? Did they give it soon enough?
There was endless self-analysis on the radio stations for several days afterwards.
There is no doubt that some part of Canad's innocence was lost after this incident especially when it was revealed that the mentally-ill shooter did have 'connections' with Muslim websites and had expressed a wish to go to the Middle East. Was this a reprisal for the Canadian activities with the western countries in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, etc. Would this spark more incidents?
There was a lot of talk about the soldier, Cpl. Cirillo, who was the sole fatality in the attack. He had a lifelong desire to be a soldier and was extremely proud of his duties at the Parliament area. He was a resident of Hamilton, Ontario and when his body was transported from Ottawa to Hamilton the highway was lined with Canadians and many cities, including Toronto, paid their respects in various ways including manning the 'cenotaph' in front of the Old City Hall in Toronto.
It is sad that Canada which has an excellent record of trying to help rather than attack other countries should have their efforts so cruelly rewarded. It is to be hoped that the Canadians and their Parliament react in a considered and sober way and do not, on the pretext of this attack, trample on the rights and freedoms of its citizens which are encapsulated in the Canadian Charter. I am sure that the Canadian common sense and steadfastness will lead them to a solution which may be the model for others.
Before long we discovered that a gunman had stormed the Parliament Building in Ottawa and in the process had shot dead a guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which is close by. The gunman was taken on by a Sergeant at Arms and killed but not before entering the building and shooting off a number of rounds.
This event, which might seem to be almost 'routine' in the USA severely shocked the peaceable Canadians who really felt that their security had been breached and that this sort of thing is anything but common here. There had, it is true, been a couple of incidents recently when Mounted Police had been killed by what appeared to be deliberate running down by a vehicle.
The Canadian media dealt with this incident in a sober way which cased much discussion on the CBC talk shows. There were comparisons between the Canadian reporting and the US reporting, the latter being rather more hysterical and rather less accurate than their northern colleagues. The usual quandary was examined, tell people 'something' quickly and never mind the accuracy or wait and try to give an accurate report. Canada tends towards the latter. Did the authorities give enough information? Did they give it soon enough?
There was endless self-analysis on the radio stations for several days afterwards.
There is no doubt that some part of Canad's innocence was lost after this incident especially when it was revealed that the mentally-ill shooter did have 'connections' with Muslim websites and had expressed a wish to go to the Middle East. Was this a reprisal for the Canadian activities with the western countries in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, etc. Would this spark more incidents?
There was a lot of talk about the soldier, Cpl. Cirillo, who was the sole fatality in the attack. He had a lifelong desire to be a soldier and was extremely proud of his duties at the Parliament area. He was a resident of Hamilton, Ontario and when his body was transported from Ottawa to Hamilton the highway was lined with Canadians and many cities, including Toronto, paid their respects in various ways including manning the 'cenotaph' in front of the Old City Hall in Toronto.
It is sad that Canada which has an excellent record of trying to help rather than attack other countries should have their efforts so cruelly rewarded. It is to be hoped that the Canadians and their Parliament react in a considered and sober way and do not, on the pretext of this attack, trample on the rights and freedoms of its citizens which are encapsulated in the Canadian Charter. I am sure that the Canadian common sense and steadfastness will lead them to a solution which may be the model for others.
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