BARRY’S BAY – It was a day that shocked the nation.
On October 22, a gunman approached the war memorial in Ottawa and shot honour guard Corporal Nathan Cirillo. The young soldier was rushed to hospital and later died of his injuries.
The gunman, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, ran into the parliament building and was gunned down by Kevin Michael Vickers, Canada’s Sergeant-at-Arms.
The news spread like wildfire, with world leaders offering both their condolences to the Cirillo’s family and their support to Canada.
Even the NHL rallied together and, out of respect for the day’s events, cancelled the game between rivals Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.
Local hockey associations, including the Barry’s Bay and Area Minor Hockey Association, followed suit and cancelled all practices and games that day as well.
The next day, as MPs gathered at the House of Commons. Renfrew-Nipissing-Pembroke MP Cheryl Gallant made a statement and expressed her sympathy for the family of Corporal Nathan Cirillo.
“Our military family is a tight-knit community. We feel the pain and the loss of Corporal Cirillo's family,” Gallant said.
She added that on October 21, she greeted a Grade 5 class from Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School in Petawawa.
Get your October 29, 2014 edition of The Valley Gazette to read more of this story.
