Article / January 12, 2015

What started off as a normal start to their morning for six strangers in Ottawa on October 22, 2014, would end up being anything but ordinary. What happened that morning would impact their lives and create a bond between them that would last forever.

The six strangers including four Defence Team members, Corporal Kyle Button, Cpl Anthony Wiseman, Colonel Conrad Mialkowski, Martin Magnan, and Margaret Lerhe, former nurse and director, Bruyère Continuing Care and Barbara Winters, lawyer for Canada Revenue Agency were the first responders on the scene when reservist Cpl Nathan Cirillo, a Ceremonial Honour Guard at Canada’s National War Memorial, was shot and killed.

A month-and-a-half later, the group gathered to talk about that morning and how they are coping now. With emotions from that day intense and still raw, this group has bonded over tragedy and continue to comfort one another.

Accounts from the morning

Cpl Button was part of the Ceremonial Guard of Honour on duty at the memorial that morning, as he had been the previous days leading up to the shooting. He was also the first person to Cpl Cirillo’s side, but not before he had taken cover from the shooter himself.

“I was confused as to why he (the shooter) was walking so close to Nathan, so I started walking in that direction to tell him to beat it. Then I saw the rifle and I remember thinking, it was a toy, it just didn’t seem real at the time. The first shot went off and Nathan reacted, then I realized this was real, the second shot Nathan stumbled - the two shots were very close together.”

After the fourth shot, Cpl Button dropped to the ground and performed first aid on Cpl Cirillo. Second on the scene was Mr. Magnan, a communication advisor, ADM (Infrastructure and Environment) who was heading to a meeting when he ran in the direction of the shots. With a direct line of sight to the shooter, he knew something serious had just taken place and immediately provided assistance to Cpl Button.

It was then that Ms. Lerhe, was passing by the memorial on her way to a meeting when she heard shots.

“I thought it was a mock exercise after hearing about the attack on Warrant Officer Vincent,” she said. “I saw the shooter with the gun and the way he was dressed - it all looked very theatrical. Then I see Kyle (Cpl Button) with someone on the ground and yelled ‘call 911’. I thought, that’s the perfect mock in health care, but I noticed no one was observing or reacting, this must be the real thing.”

Once Ms. Lerhe was at Nathan’s side she put her skills to work, while Mr. Magnan held up Cpl Cirillo’s legs. Next at the scene was Col Mialkowski, who was driving by the Memorial and heard the distinctive shots and immediately hauled his car up onto the sidewalk at the Memorial.

He was soon joined by Cpl Wiseman, driver for the Chief of the Defence Staff, who arrived next at the memorial.

Ms. Winters, who was heading to a nearby meeting, was the last to arrive.

“It was such a beautiful morning. I had stopped and taken pictures because the guards looked so striking in their kilts,” recalled Ms. Winters who was aware of the previous attack on WO Vincent.

“I knew they were shots, so I turned around and saw people looking and ducking and I thought, Oh my god! I started running back, I knew if I saw them standing they were okay. I didn’t see them, so I just kept running (towards Cpl Cirillo). Everyone was already there … he was being very well looked after.”

Mr. Magnan held Nathan’s hand as Ms. Winters talked to him, letting him know he wasn’t alone. Having previously been in a coma and able to hear when people spoke to her, Ms. Winters was certain Cpl Cirillo knew they were there with him.

“I had tunnel vision,” said Ms. Winters. “For me I really don’t remember the big picture. The only thing that mattered was that soldier. Nothing else in the world mattered but that man.”

Training in action

As the team worked feverishly on Cpl Cirillo, their training and experience was unwavering as they reassured one another.

“You don’t rise to the occasion. You sink to the level of your training in a crisis situation,” said Col Mialkowski. “Certainly, the three of us in uniform have been exposed to training situations like this. I fully believe that the combination of training and experience is what all six of us were able to rely on when we went to Nathan’s side. We brought all of our different aspects of training and experience and I think that’s why we integrated so well.”

As the crowds around the War Memorial grew, the team worked to keep things under control.

Lasting Impacts

As all of Canada watched the events unfold that day, for many it had an immense impact - but none more than this team of first responders. Cpl Button, Cpl Wiseman and Col Mialkowski, who have been deployed to Afghanistan, were all too familiar with events having a lasting impact. But it was the first such incident they have had to deal with on their native soil.

“It certainly had an impact on me. I’ve been exposed to events that were terrible to me and this one rates with those – I would say that I get strength from the other five people who were there that day,” said Col Mialkowski.

“I also drew strength from meeting Nathan’s mom, seeing her and being able to understand the degree of human kindness that is within her and seeing the dignity she’s been able to uphold for herself, her family and for Nathan’s spirit.”

For the other responders, the day has affected them in different ways. For Ms. Lerhe the experience has helped her focus on future plans. Retiring in January, and after the events of October 22, has sparked a need to do more in the volunteer sector.

“I‘m looking forward to putting some priority on helping the soldiers however I can,” she said.

For Mr. Magnan, he remembers all the small details of that morning - and how leaving the police station later that afternoon everything seemed so surreal.

“It was weird,” said Mr. Magnan. “I was at the beginning of this ordeal and now other people still hadn’t finished their experience. As I stood alone downtown, I called friends and they were in lockdown – I felt very alone.”

In the days that followed, Mr. Magnan said life seemed the same, but different, as routine tasks didn’t seem so routine and he’d lose track of time.

What has helped the group with the healing process is their new friendship, how this tragedy has brought a nation together and most importantly spending time with Cpl Cirillo’s family.

“We have each other to talk too which is a great help,” said Cpl Wiseman.

“The outpouring of affection from everyone from across the country every day at the tomb has been overwhelming. Hundreds of people came, many hugging the sentries,” said Cpl Button with a smile. “There were streams of people showing their respect …pee-wee hockey teams, veterans, Canadian Muslim communities – it made to feel proud to be a Canadian.”