Commemoration of the Events of October 2014

On October 22, 2015, Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston took part in a commemorative ceremony of the tragic events of October 2014 at the National War Memorial, in Ottawa.

The Chief of the Defence Staff also laid a wreath.

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, and Mr. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister-designate, laid a wreath on behalf of the government of Canada.

The Governor General laid a wreath of behalf of all Canadians.

During the prayer, the sun came out on this somber day.

A fly past was conducted in honour of Warrant Officer Vincent, who was a firefighter in the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Dignitaries and family members of Warrant Officer Vincent and Corporal Cirillo attended the ceremony.

The ceremony paid tribute to the sacrifices of Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent and Corporal Nathan Cirillo, as well as the bravery of the first responders during the tragic events in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, on October 20, 2014, and at the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Ontario, on October 22, 2014.

He then inspected the guard of honour composed of 100-member military guard of the Royal Canadian Air Force personnel and soldiers of The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada (Princess Louise’s),

Upon arrival, the Governor General was greeted by General Jonathan Vance, Chief of the Defence Staff and then received a Royal salute.

The Governor General delivered a speech on this occasion: "It’s been one year. Many people said Canada changed forever last October. But I don’t think Canada changed forever. Canadians are a caring, courageous people, and that did not change, and that will not change. Such moments arise rarely in a nation’s history, and how we respond tells us what kind of people we are. How you responded tells us what kind of people you are, and what kind of people we are."