Former officer hailed as hero
Residents remember time House of Commons
Sergeant-at-Arms spent in the NWT RCMP
John McFadden
Northern News Services
Published Monday, October 27, 2014
BEHCHOKO/RAE-EDZO
Residents of Behchoko are remembering a former RCMP officer in the community who is now being called a Canadian hero.
Kevin Vickers has received high praise for his actions to help stop a gunman in the Parliament Buildings Oct. 22.
The House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms was a Mountie in the NWT during the late 1970s and 1980s with postings in Behchoko, Yellowknife and Fort Resolution.
Madeline Rabesca lived next door to Vickers during his two years in Behchoko.
"He was a great officer, a very nice man," said Rabesca. "He took his job very seriously and did it quite well. But he was also really friendly. He'd come over to our house for coffee or tea," she said.
"People were phoning me Wednesday to tell me he was involved in the incident in Ottawa. I turned my TV on and was quite proud of him and his actions. It's been more than 30 years since he was here, but thinking about him brought back many good memories."
Police say Michael Zehaf-Bibeau of Montreal fatally shot Hamilton reservist Cpl. Nathan Cirillo as he stood guard at the National War Memorial near the Parliament Buildings on the morning of Oct. 22.
Hayden Trenholm, a researcher for NWT Senator Nick Sibbeston and a former Yellowknifer, witnessed the immediate aftermath of the shooting.
"Eight or 10 of us were just standing there on the sidewalk stunned. No one even moved, it was unreal - I wondered if it was a movie," he said.
"Only then did I see Cpl. Cirillo on the ground, not moving, and the man sort of stood facing us. He was wearing a face scarf, sorta black and white, which fell from his face and he just looked at us with no particular expression ... and he held the gun over his head and yelled, 'for Iraq' but it sounded like a cartoon.
The gunman then made his way into the Centre Block of Parliament where he was eventually shot and killed by security personnel. While initial reports credited Vickers with taking down the gunman, it remains unclear whether Vickers fired the shots that killed the assailant. However, one veteran Parliament Hill reporter reported that he saw Vickers shoot the man down.
Video from inside the Parliament Buildings Oct. 22 show him holding a pistol and pursuing the gunman.
Whatever his exact role was, when Parliament resumed on Oct. 23, Vickers received a standing ovation from all MPs in the House of Commons.
Another Behchoko resident said she too was flooded with fond memories as she learned Vickers was involved in the incident in the nation's capital.
"He was very supportive towards our community members, particularly the young people," said Rosa Mantla. "I have really good memories of his time here.
"We'd lost track of him so I was quite surprised when his name came up on the news Wednesday. I haven't seen him in years," she said.
Meanwhile, Kevin Vickers' bother Will Vickers, who is a teacher in Yellowknife, said he had the chance to speak with his brother on the phone on Oct. 23.
"It was great to hear his voice, very relieving," Will said. "We had texted each other but I was glad to hear his voice and him telling me things were starting to return to normal."
Will Vickers taught in Behchoko and Fort Resolution at the same time his brother was posted to those communities.
Will said his brother learned a lot about people and diversity during his time in the North.
"He'd spend lots of time with elders and came to understand the aboriginal culture," said Will.
"He wrote important papers and articles on policing in aboriginal communities and went on to become the director-general of the RCMP's aboriginal police services branch.
"Our family grew up in New Brunswick, but both Kevin and I learned a lot about Canadians and our similarities and differences when we came to the North. He's now a member of the board of the Progressive Muslim Association of Canada. He won't be happy to see the backlash against Muslim Canadians because of what happened Wednesday.
"We are very, very proud of Kevin. We're grateful he was not hurt. It's sad that he had to do what he had to do," said Will. "He won't think he's a hero. He'll say he was just doing his job."
Will said despite his concerns for his brother, he had a degree of calm confidence on the day of the shooting, knowing that the right man was on the job.
"He's a great leader, an excellent marksman and well-trained. I knew he'd be right on the front line but I was confident he would come out alright," Will said.
The public's perception of the Sergeant-at-Arms position is that it is mostly ceremonial.
"He sometimes gets teased about the hat he has to wear," said Will. "But he's ex-RCMP. He's always on guard."
Will's faith in his brother comes from first-hand experience. Will, who is five years younger than Kevin, was swimming across the Miramichi River in New Brunswick when he was about 12 years old back in the 1960s when he ran into trouble.
"I was starting to drown. Kevin came over in a canoe, bear hugged me, told me to calm down and helped me to shore. He saved my life that day. He's been my hero ever since," said Will.
Will said the last few days have been very emotional for himself and his family.
"I've received hundreds of texts and Facebook messages, some of them from people I don't even know that well," he said. "I really appreciate it."
