"Lord High Badass of Canada"

"Though I'm honoured to think [you're] excited about me, I wish and hope you realize it's about the entire team that performed very well on that day."
"This is not about me. This is about the team of Commons security services."
"This is not an issue just for security, this is everybody's issue and how we deal with this is by everybody, all the citizens, working together with their local police, their national police to ensure we have a safe society."
"I think that is accomplished by respecting the dignity of people."
Canadian House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers

"I'm not sure [Mr. Vickers] has changed my impression of Canada overall. I think for us down here [U.S.] Canada has a more muted version of the [United Kingdom's] mix of archaic costumes and vaguely medieval honorific titles and all that. Which is kind of quaint and a little odd to us. But this was an example of real steel under what can seem like foppery. Almost a bit Bond-like in the understatedness with which Vickers handled the whole thing ... and then his all-business attitude after the fact."
Josh Marshall, editor/publisher Talking Points Memo, U.S. political website

"This terror attack in Ottawa proves, once again, that Islamic radical terrorism has no limits and respects no borders."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu

"He conforms to that Canadian stereotype of excessive modesty."
"I'm glad we have a public servant who does his job, even does it on the heroic scale that he did that morning, and then says 'I'm just a servant of the people'. [The notion that Canadians are inherently formidable] probably only a story that we tell ourselves. But I'm glad to see it confirmed from time to time."
Canadian historian Christopher Moore

THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld   Prime Minister Stephen Harper shakes hands with as Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers in the House of Commons on Thursday October 23, 2014 in Ottawa. The House of Commons is back in action, kicked off by an exhilarating show of support for the sergeant-at-arms of the House of Commons, who was among those who opened fire Wednesday on the gunman who stormed Parliament Hill.

When, on becoming aware through the courageous action of another Parliament Hill security guard who, unarmed, had taken it upon himself at his entry to tackle the gunman who stormed Ottawa's Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings after shooting Corporal Nathan Cirillo in the back as he stood ceremonial guard over the tomb of the Unknown Soldier before the National Cenotaph, Sergeant-at-Arms Vickers, a former RCMP member, ducked into his office to retrieve his 9mm handgun.

He faced down the intruder in the main corridor of the Centre Block and along with other members of the Parliamentary security team, shot the man to death. Then calmly informed the gathered-in-hiding Conservative caucus that the threat had been disarmed. Parliament Hill and its environs, along with nearby areas remained on lockdown for much of that day. Everyone was in shock over the unprecedented attack on Parliament following the murder of a Canadian reservist.

The Prime Minister was in a meeting just off the corridor that the gunman had stormed. The following day Mr, Vickers appeared in Parliament, unruffled, in his traditional ceremonial dress, mace in hand, prepared to conduct his daily ceremonial role ushering in Parliamentary procedures. Then and there he was roundly applauded and lauded for his cool-headed response to a very real threat to Canadian democracy.

Visiting Israel to attend an international security conference representing a trip long planned, he was feted in the Israeli Knesset for his actions. There, he was singled out for applause and appreciation of his modesty and action in a time of need.

Israel knows all about stoicism, military competence, diplomatic niceties and the will to survive leading to vigilance and the courage to confront those whose goal is to destroy its presence. It exists in a sea of ill-will and attacks. It has assumed its rightful place in a geography where once in Biblical times and long since Jews had always lived, and where their fabled heritage still resonates.

Chaim Tzach/Government Press Office    The House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers met Wednesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.