Former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers visits Regina

The man regarded by many as a hero after October’s attack on Parliament Hill was in Regina on Thursday.
 
Kevin Vickers, the former sergeant-at-arms in Parliament and Canada’s current ambassador to Ireland, spoke at a breakfast gathering for Regina’s Chamber of Commerce.
 
Like a celebrity, before and after his speech people at the breakfast were asking for photos with the ambassador.
 
Andrew Scheer, Saskatchewan MP and Speaker of the House, introduced Vickers to the crowd in the small hall at Queensbury Downs. He said that Vickers will always be remembered in Parliament for his actions on October 22, 2014. Vickers helped stop the attack and shot terrorist Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.
 
“I can’t tell you how much we appreciate that as members of the House of Commons, and on behalf of all Canadians, I would once again like to thank him for his heroic actions that day.”
 
Scheer said that he wasn’t on the Hill that day, but returned afterward to square things away.
 
“(Vickers and I) spent the rest of the day together, and I was so impressed by his leadership, and more than anything else, the calmness that he displayed throughout the day until we got everyone safely off the Hill.”
 
Vickers was given a standing ovation when he took the stage and the applause lingered as he began to speak. He spent 25 years as an RCMP officer, and asked for a moment of silence to remember the three mounties killed in Moncton exactly one year ago.
 
“When I was in Grade 2, I saw three members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police wearing the red serge coming out of a courthouse in New Castle, New Brunswick. I knew at that moment what I was going to do with my life.”
 
Vickers trained with the RCMP in Regina, and said that he is thankful to Saskatchewan people.
 
“It was here that I learned about values, your values, the values of honesty, valour, integrity, professionalism: Saskatchewan’s values.”
 
Vickers spoke briefly about the attack on Parliament Hill, saying that it was a difficult day for all of Canada.
 
“It was an attack on the fundamentals of our democracy. It was like we got the wind kicked out of us, and we had to get back up again. It was critically important to show the world how resilient we truly are.”
 
Despite widely being hailed as the hero of the day in October, Vickers is very humble about the role he played.
 
“There were many heroes that day … it was a team effort, and as I always repeat, it’s not about Kevin Vickers, October 22. It’s about Canada, and Canadians, and the resilience of Canadians that … when Canadians face difficulty, Canadians don’t back down.”
 
The speech at the breakfast on Thursday was not about the attack on Parliament Hill, but was about Vickers’ role as Canada’s Ambassador to Ireland. He spoke about a new trade deal, the Canadian European Trade Agreement, and how Saskatchewan has a lot to gain from it.
 
“I see Saskatchewan as being the new economic engine of Canada. And Saskatchewan stands to benefit significantly from this preferred access once the agreement is finally ratified.”
 
People at the speech appreciated his work on trade, but also as a man of courage.
 
“It was a great speech, he’s a really inspiring guy,” said one woman.
 
The University of Regina will award Vickers an honorary doctorate of law Thursday afternoon.

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