Kevin Vickers | |
|---|---|
 Vickers in 2015 | |
| Leader of the New Brunswick Liberal Association | |
| In office April 24, 2019 – September 14, 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Denis Landry (interim) |
| Succeeded by | Roger Melanson (interim) |
| 29th Canadian Ambassador to Ireland | |
| In office January 19, 2015 – March 2, 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Loyola Hearn |
| Succeeded by | Suzanne Drisdelle (Chargé d’Affaires ad interim) |
| 9th Sergeant-at-Arms of the Canadian House of Commons | |
| In office September 1, 2006 – January 10, 2015 | |
| Clerk | Audrey O'Brien |
| Preceded by | Maurice Gaston Cloutier |
| Succeeded by | Pat McDonell (acting) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Kevin Michael Vickers September 29, 1956 Chatham, New Brunswick |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Liberal (Provincial) |
| Parent(s) | William James Vickers Monica Margaret Vickers (née Kingston) |
| Occupation | Police officer, diplomat, politician |
| Police career | |
| Department | Royal Canadian Mounted Police |
| Service years | 1976–2005 |
| Status | Retired |
| Rank | Chief 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Kevin Vickers to be named Canadian ambassador to Ireland". CTV. January 8, 2015. Retrieved January 8, 2015.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "OAKLEY - The Real Hero of Parliament Hill?". 640toronto.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.
- ^ "Police handled Hill shooter well: report". thestarphoenix.com. Retrieved 6 August 2015.[permanent dead link]
- ^ 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.
- ^ Ian Austen; Rick Gladstone (October 22, 2014). "Gunman Panics Ottawa, Killing Soldier in Spree at Capital". The New York Times.
- ^ Alexander Smith; Alastair Jamieson; Justin Ling (October 23, 2014). "Canada Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers Hailed Hero Over Gun Attacks". NBC News.
- ^ Randall Palmer; Leah Schnurr (October 23, 2014). "Cheers, tributes for Canadian guard credited with killing gunman". Reuters.
- ^ Rob Crilly (22 October 2014). "Kevin Vickers: a Canadian hero". Telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.