A member of The Argylls regiment stands on sentry duty at The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Ottawa on Oct. 17.Dave Chan/The Globe and Mail
A decade ago, Martin Magnan was walking in downtown Ottawa near the National War Memorial when he heard three gunshots and began to run.
While others were fleeing, Mr. Magnan’s reaction was the opposite. “I started running, towards the gunfire, towards the scene,” he recalled.
Mr. Magnan, a public servant who worked for the Department of National Defence, remembers seeing Corporal Kyle Button at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Mr. Magnan did not realize at first that Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who had been on sentry duty with Cpl. Button, had been shot.
Mr. Magnan was one of six people that day, including Cpl. Button, two other civilians and two other military members, who tried to save Cpl. Cirillo. They worked together: Mr. Magnan’s role was to support Cpl. Cirillo’s legs.
He also held Cpl. Cirillo’s left hand during what would be the soldier’s final moments.
The gunman left the scene and ended up inside Centre Block on Parliament Hill, still carrying a Winchester rifle. He was shot dead in the Hall of Honour, located directly outside of Conservative and NDP caucus meetings that were taking place that Wednesday. Then-prime minister Stephen Harper was present during the caucus meeting and was ushered off to what was believed to be a more secure location.
Cpl. Cirillo was 24 years old when he died, and left behind a six-year-old son, Marcus Daniel Cirillo. His family has chosen not to speak publicly, including on this anniversary.
A decade after the tragedy, Mr. Magnan and the other civilians who came to Cpl. Cirillo’s aid have not been recognized publicly for their bravery, an omission that a current and former parliamentarian believe needs to be rectified. They say the individuals should be more formally recognized for what they did that day.
By contrast, 16 security personnel who were present on Parliament Hill on Oct. 22, 2014, were formally recognized by then-governor-general David Johnston in February, 2016. Some received the Star of Courage, which recognizes acts of conspicuous courage in circumstances of great peril. Others were awarded the Medal of Bravery, which recognizes acts of bravery in hazardous circumstances.
Erin O’Toole, a former MP who was inside the Conservative caucus room, said there were two attacks that day – one at the National War Memorial and one inside Centre Block. He says the civilians such as Mr. Magnan were not on duty and acted in exceptional ways in response to the attack on Cpl. Cirillo.
The civilians who helped have been treated differently from those in uniform, he said.
“There should be no difference between anyone who ran towards danger that day,” he said, adding he plans to write to the Governor-General to call for this to be addressed.
Charlie Angus, a veteran MP who was attending the NDP caucus when the gunman stormed Centre Block, said Cpl. Cirillo’s murder traumatized the country and those who came to the reservist’s aid “stepped up.”
“That’s heroism,” he said.
Martin Magnan, pictured at The National War Memorial in Ottawa on Oct. 17, was one of a group of people who came to the aid of Corporal Nathan Cirillo during an attack at the Cenotaph on Oct. 22, 2014.Dave Chan/The Globe and Mail
Mr. Angus said he intends to raise in Parliament the need to ensure the Cenotaph group’s efforts are appropriately recognized a decade after the attack.
In response to queries from The Globe, Samantha Lafleur, a senior communications adviser at Rideau Hall, said a number of individuals stood out for their actions on Oct. 22, 2014. She said 16 individuals were given Decorations for Bravery. The honours have levels, including the Star of Courage and Medal of Bravery. Ms. Lafleur said for Decorations of Bravery, nominations must be made within two years of an incident or within two years after a court or a coroner has finished a review.
Ms. Lafleur said that 12 people were recognized with the Governor-General’s Commendation for Bravery. The commendation was created in 1993 to honour acts of selflessness in hazardous circumstances. Rideau Hall says since that time, more than 4,000 Canadians have received it. The recognition comes with a pin that features a cluster of maple leaves.
Mr. Magnan remembers receiving correspondence from Rideau Hall to say his actions on Oct. 22 would be recognized. Much later, he received a pin in the mail.
The six also received a gold lifesaving medal of the Order of St. John’s in 2015 in a ceremony that was held in the Senate.
Mr. Magnan said it would mean a lot, both personally and to his family, to be recognized in a setting such as Rideau Hall. Recognition holds worth, he said, adding this is particularly true for individuals who place themselves at risk to help others.
Mr. O’Toole said great Canadians should be publicly celebrated at Rideau Hall rather than by mail. He added that individuals have been profoundly affected personally since the events of Oct. 22, 2014.
Mr. Magnan went on to work for Mr. O’Toole when he became veterans affairs minister in early 2015.
In the aftermath of Oct. 22, Mr. Magnan said he quietly tried to keep going and he did not take leave from work. Work, he said, gave him structure during a chaotic time.
Living alone, Mr. Magnan said he found it hard to cope. He did not want to be at home and found himself walking a lot. And simple things weren’t adding up: Despite the amount of time he was spending walking, he said he became confused at one point to find numerous pairs of worn shoes at the front door.
He let mail accumulate on a chair and left bills unpaid. He found himself waking up in strange places, such as on a downtown park bench, not knowing how he got there. He struggled financially, eventually losing his home. At one point, Mr. Magnan said he considered taking his own life.
He said he has spent years trying to put his life back together, including through tools he developed while taking a course at an Ottawa college.
He does not regret assisting Cpl. Cirillo, he said, but added he has “paid a heavy personal cost for that day,” including in the way it affected his relationships, including his children.
His perspective has also been changed after being with Cpl. Cirillo at the time of his death.
“When we move on, something goes away – but it’s here now,” Mr. Magnan said.
“I do know that when I do meet people, I look to see that light in their eyes. Because it is not going to be there forever.”