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Kevin Vickers

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Kevin Vickers
ONB SC
Vickers in 2015
Leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Association
In office
April 24, 2019 – September 14, 2020
Preceded byDenis Landry (interim)
Succeeded byRoger Melanson (interim)
29th Canadian Ambassador to Ireland
In office
January 19, 2015 – March 2, 2019
Preceded byLoyola Hearn
Succeeded bySuzanne Drisdelle (Chargé d’Affaires ad interim)

Nancy Smyth

9th Sergeant-at-Arms of the Canadian House of Commons
In office
September 1, 2006 – January 10, 2015
ClerkAudrey O'Brien
Preceded byMaurice Gaston Cloutier
Succeeded byPat McDonell (acting)
Personal details
Born
Kevin Michael Vickers

(1956-09-29) September 29, 1956 (age 68)
Chatham, New Brunswick
NationalityCanadian
Political partyLiberal (Provincial)
Parent(s)William James Vickers
Monica Margaret Vickers (née Kingston)
OccupationPolice officer, diplomat, politician
Police career
DepartmentRoyal Canadian Mounted Police
Service years1976–2005
StatusRetired
RankChief Superintendent

Kevin Michael Vickers ONB SC (born September 29, 1956) is a Canadian politician, former diplomat, and retired police officer. He served as the leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Association from 2019 to 2020, a retired Canadian diplomat, former Sergeant at Arms and former Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officer.[1] He was the Canadian Ambassador to Ireland from 2015 until 2019[2][3] and the ninth[4] Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons of Canada from 2006 to 2015.

Vickers participated in ending the October 22, 2014, shootings at Parliament Hill alongside RCMP Constable Curtis Barrett when they both returned heavy fire at gunman Zehaf-Bibeau.[5][6][7] Minutes earlier, Zehaf-Bibeau had killed Corporal Nathan Cirillo, a soldier, at the Canadian National War Memorial and shot a constable at the Peace Tower entrance.[8] For his actions Vickers has been called a hero by the Prime Minister, Ministers of the Crown,[9] the Leader of the Opposition,[10] and Canadian and international media.[11] Barrett's contribution was largely ignored.[12] On February 8, 2016, Vickers was presented with the Star of Courage along with six others involved in bringing the incident under control. Eight others were awarded the Medal of Bravery.[13]

Prior to his role in Parliament, Vickers served in the RCMP for 29 years, rising to the rank of Chief Superintendent.

Early life and family

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Vickers was born at Hotel Dieu in Chatham, New Brunswick,[14] where his mother, Monica Margaret (née Kingston), was a nurse, and his father, William James "Bill" (1921–2004),[15] operated a dairy named Northumberland Co-op Dairy.[16] He is of Irish heritage.[17]

Vickers grew up in Newcastle (now part of the city of Miramichi). His father invited home students from developing countries studying co-operatives at the Coady International Institute at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.[18]

Vickers resides in Miramichi, New Brunswick, with his wife Ann. He has two children: Andrew and Laura.

Career

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Policing

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Vickers served in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police for 29 years, attaining the rank of Chief Superintendent. He gained prominence as the incident commander during the 1999–2000 Burnt Church Crisis.[19][20] He spent ten years stationed in Alberta and ten years stationed in the Northwest Territories,[21] and subsequently was the director-general of the RCMP's aboriginal police services branch.[22] In 2003, he became Director General of the National Contract Policing Branch for Canada, managing nine separate branches of law enforcement.[21]

Throughout his RCMP career, Vickers provided security for VIPs, including Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Andrew. He also served as an aide-de-camp for the Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick.

Sergeant-at-Arms

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In June 2005 he joined the House of Commons as Director of Security Operations. He was appointed Sergeant-at-Arms for the Canadian House of Commons on August 24, 2006, and began serving on September 1, 2006.[23][24]

On acting to permit the kirpan, the ceremonial dagger that observant Sikhs are required to wear at all times, to be worn in the Commons, Vickers recalled that in his interview for the post "... I told them that if they made me their Sergeant-at-Arms, there would be no walls built around Canada's Parliamentary buildings ... I have kept my promise."[18]

In 2013, when Idle No More protestors arrived at Parliament Hill, Vickers participated in a ritual exchange of tobacco with Serpent River First Nation chief Isadore Day.[25]

On October 22, 2014, during the Parliament Hill attack, Vickers was initially identified as the sole hero and credited with the fatal shooting of Michael Zehaf-Bibeau,[26] but once the independent OPP report was released on June 1, 2015, it was revealed that the suspect was shot several times by both Vickers and RCMP Constable Curtis Barrett.[27] Zehaf-Bibeau entered the Centre Block under the Peace Tower, shooting a Commons security guard in the leg, exchanging gunfire, before running down the Hall of Honour to an alcove by the entrance to the Library of Parliament, which is beside Vickers' office. Vickers pulled a 9mm handgun from a lock-box and entered the hall. He stood behind the pillar in an opposite position to Zehaf-Bibeau and shortly after Zehaf-Bibeau had pulled away from the pillar and shot at Barrett, Vickers threw himself on the ground and fired multiple shots at the gunman, effectively disabling him. A niece told the Calgary Sun, "This is the first time in his career that he's shot anyone."[28]

Ambassador to Ireland

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Vickers officially started duties as the Canadian ambassador to Ireland on 21 January 2015, replacing Loyola Hearn.[29]

On May 26, 2016, Vickers engaged a protester who was interrupting a ceremony commemorating British soldiers who were killed in the 1916 Easter Rising, dragging the man to one side before handing him over to Gardaí officers.[30][31]

Politics

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On March 15, 2019, Vickers announced he would run for the leadership of the New Brunswick Liberal Association to replace Brian Gallant.[32] He was acclaimed as the leader after the only other contender René Ephestion dropped out.[33] The Liberal Party's executive board acclaimed Vickers on the recommendation by the leadership convention's steering committee on April 16, 2019, effective April 24, 2019.[34]

Vickers resigned as leader after failing to either win his seat of Miramichi in the September 14, 2020 New Brunswick general election or prevent Premier Blaine Higgs's Progressive Conservative minority government from gaining enough seats to become a majority, as the Liberals lost three seats.[35]

Honours

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On October 22, 2014, members of the House of Commons protection services and the RCMP were instrumental in stopping an armed man who had stormed the Centre Block of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario. Constable Son was stationed at the front entrance when he spotted the man entering with a concealed rifle. The constable lunged to gain control of the firearm, but it discharged and struck him in the leg. Drawn to the Rotunda by the noise, Corporal Malo and Constable Thom took cover and exchanged several rounds with the gunman after he entered the building. Constable Létourneau tracked the gunman down the Hall of Honour toward the Library of Parliament and fired at him several times. RCMP Sergeant Rozon, Corporal Daigle and constables Barrett, Bergeron, Bubelis, Célestin, Fraser, Marcoux, Palmer, Ruest and Waye, who had assembled outside the Peace Tower, entered the Centre Block. Supported by their colleagues, Sergeant Rozon, Corporal Daigle and constables Barrett and Fraser assumed a tactical formation (IARD) as they charged down the Hall of Honour. With the shooter now cornered in an alcove leading to the Library, Sergeant-at-Arms Vickers, after being advised of the shooter’s location, dove to the floor in front of him and fired his weapon. RCMP Constable Barrett walked directly toward the gunman while also firing his weapon. The collective actions of these 16 individuals brought the incident to an end in less than three minutes, and avoided further tragedy.[13]

Vickers has also been recognized by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration for his "Outstanding Contribution to Drug Enforcement".[19]

Honorary degrees

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Honorary degrees
Location Date School Degree Gave commencement address
New Brunswick 11 May 2015 Mount Allison University Doctor of Laws (LL.D) [39] Yes [40]
Saskatchewan 4 June 2015 University of Regina Doctor of Laws[41][42] Yes

Unofficial honours

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Vickers received an extended standing ovation in the House of Commons for his role in ending the 2014 shootings at Parliament Hill, Ottawa.

Comedian Stephen Colbert had high praise for Vickers, comparing his actions to those of Bruce Willis in the movie Die Hard and also praising his stoic reaction to the standing ovation in Parliament.[43][44]

French President François Hollande said in an address to the Canadian Parliament, "I salute the courage of Kevin Vickers, who is known all across the world."[45]

"The International Conference on Homeland Security in Tel Aviv in November 2014 opened with calling Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers to the stage to acknowledge him for his courage." During the same trip, Vickers was recognized by the speaker of the Israeli Knesset and asked to rise in his seat in the gallery to be acknowledged by parliamentarians.[46]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Vongdouangchanh, Bea (September 18, 2006). "New Sgt.-at-Arms Vickers steps into Cloutier's shoes – Parliament Hill no more a threat than any large city's mass transit system: Sgt.-at-Arms Vickers". The Hill Times.
  2. ^ "Kevin Vickers to be named Canadian ambassador to Ireland". CTV. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
  3. ^ "Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons" (Press release). Niagara Falls, Ontario: Rob Nicholson. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved 2014-10-23.
  4. ^ "House of Commons Procedure and Practice – Sergeants-at-Arms of the House of Commons Since 1867 – Appendix 11. Sergeants-at-Arms of the House of Commons Since 1867". House of Commons Procedure and Practice, Second Edition, 2009. Parliament of Canada. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  5. ^ "OAKLEY - The Real Hero of Parliament Hill?". 640toronto.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  6. ^ "Police handled Hill shooter well: report". thestarphoenix.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.[permanent dead link]
  7. ^ National Post. "Who fired the fatal shot that killed Michael Zehaf-Bibeau? Eyewitness account suggests it wasn't Kevin Vickers - 24News.ca". 24news.ca. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
  8. ^ Ian Austen; Rick Gladstone (October 22, 2014). "Gunman Panics Ottawa, Killing Soldier in Spree at Capital". The New York Times.
  9. ^ Alexander Smith; Alastair Jamieson; Justin Ling (October 23, 2014). "Canada Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers Hailed Hero Over Gun Attacks". NBC News.
  10. ^ Randall Palmer; Leah Schnurr (October 23, 2014). "Cheers, tributes for Canadian guard credited with killing gunman". Reuters.
  11. ^ Rob Crilly (22 October 2014). "Kevin Vickers: a Canadian hero". Telegraph.co.uk.
  12. ^ John Ivison (October 20, 2016). "Canada's loneliest hero: Why you've never heard of this RCMP officer who shot the Parliament Hill gunman". nationalpost.com.
  13. ^ a b c "Presentation of Decorations for Bravery". Rideau Hall Press Office, Office of the Governor General. February 4, 2016. Archived from the original on 2019-11-19. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  14. ^ "KINGSTON 2000: Descendants of Samuel A Kingston and Lillian Isabella Loggie". TomKingston.com. August 1999. Retrieved October 23, 2014.
  15. ^ "WILLIAM J. VICKERS: obituary and death notice on ImMemoriam". InMemoriam.ca.
  16. ^ Alex Ballingall; Tonda MacCharles (October 22, 2014). "Parliament Hill sergeant-at-arms hailed as hero in Ottawa". Totonto Star.
  17. ^ Sheila Langan (October 24, 2014). "Hero of Ottawa shooting, Kevin Vickers, is a proud Irish Canadian". IrishCentral.com.
  18. ^ a b c Taber, Jane (June 2, 2011). "Parliament to 'accept and embrace' wearing of kirpan, sergeant-at-arms explains". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  19. ^ a b "Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons". The Office of the Leader of the Government in The House of Commons and Minister for Democratic Reform. August 24, 2006. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  20. ^ De Lint, Willem; Hall, Alan (2009). Intelligent Control: Developments in Public Order Policing in Canada. University of Toronto Press. ISBN 9780802038463. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  21. ^ a b Savoy, Gail (January 2003). "Miramichi's own Kevin Vickers off to prestigious new position". Miramichi Leader. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  22. ^ Younger-Lewis, Greg (March 11, 2005). "Police explanation sheds little light on dog slaughter". Nunatsiaq News. Archived from the original on October 22, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  23. ^ "Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons". Market Wired.
  24. ^ "Appointment of New Sergeant-at-Arms of the House of Commons". RobNicholsonMP.ca. August 24, 2006. Archived from the original on 25 October 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  25. ^ Rabey, Matt (January 23, 2013). "Idle No More protest visits Parliament Hill". Lambda. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  26. ^ Friesen, Joe (October 22, 2014). "What unfolded during the attack in Ottawa". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  27. ^ John Ivison (June 2, 2015). "Who fired the fatal shot that killed Michael Zehaf-Bibeau? Eyewitness account suggests it wasn't Kevin Vickers - National Post". National Post. Retrieved August 6, 2015.
  28. ^ Michael Platt (October 22, 2014). "Parliament Hill shooting: Sergeant-At-Arms Kevin Vickers the family hero who took down Ottawa gunman". Calgary Sun.
  29. ^ Colin Gleeson (22 January 2015). "Canadian envoy who shot gunman presents credentials to Higgins". The Irish Times.
  30. ^ "Canadian ambassador tackles protester at 1916 ceremony". TheJournal.ie. May 26, 2016.
  31. ^ "Kevin Vickers, Canadian Ambassador To Ireland, Grabs Protester At 1916 Event". HuffPost Politics. May 26, 2016.
  32. ^ Poitras, Jacques (March 15, 2019). "Kevin Vickers, retired sergeant-at-arms, seeks Liberal leadership". CBC News. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  33. ^ Poitras, Jacques (April 9, 2019). "Kevin Vickers set to be acclaimed as New Brunswick Liberal leader as only opponent bows out". CBC News. Retrieved April 9, 2019.
  34. ^ "Kevin Vickers on his way to becoming next Liberal party leader | CBC News".
  35. ^ Urquhart, Mia (September 14, 2020). "Kevin Vickers to step aside as Liberal leader". CBC News. Retrieved September 14, 2020.
  36. ^ Healy, J.J. (July 2008). "RCMP Vet of the Month: July 2008 – About our author: Sergeant at Arms, Kevin M. Vickers". RCMPGraves.com. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  37. ^ "15TH ANNUAL EID-UL-FITR – OCTOBER 7, 2009". The Association of Progressive Muslims of Canada. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on October 25, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
  38. ^ "Kevin Vickers receives Order of New Brunswick". 3 August 2015. Retrieved August 4, 2015.
  39. ^ "Mount Allison University | Honorary degree recipients 21st century". www.mta.ca. Archived from the original on June 9, 2021. Retrieved Jan 26, 2021.
  40. ^ "RAW: Kevin Vickers speech - YouTube". www.youtube.com. Retrieved Jan 26, 2021.
  41. ^ University of Regina [dead link]
  42. ^ "Honorary degree recipients announced | Communications and Marketing, University of Regina". Retrieved Jan 26, 2021.
  43. ^ Alexander Panetta (October 31, 2014). "Parliamentary hero Kevin Vickers gets high praise from Stephen Colbert". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved September 2, 2017.
  44. ^ "Stephen Colbert praises Kevin Vickers: 'To hell with Bruce Willis'". CBC News. October 31, 2014.
  45. ^ "Kevin Vickers to be honoured at Israeli Knesset". CTVNews. 10 November 2014.
  46. ^ "Kevin Vickers to be honoured by Israeli Knesset". Yahoo News Canada. November 11, 2014.
[edit]
Government offices
Preceded by
Maurice Gaston Cloutier
 Sergeant-at-Arms of the
Canadian House of Commons
2006–2015 		Succeeded by
Pat McDonell (acting)
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Canadian Ambassador to Ireland
2015–2019 		Succeeded by
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