News in Review – December 2014 – Teacher Resource Guide SHOOTINGS

Note to teachers The classroom must promote a safe place for students to discuss sensitive issues such as violence and death. Prepare students for the topics that will be discussed. Allow for individual reflective time in addition to small group activities where students can safely process their thoughts and emotions.

SETTING THE STAGE

Over the course of two days in October 2014, Canadians wondered if our nation had become a new battleground for terrorists. In two separate incidents, what many are calling “lone-wolf attackers” took the lives of members of the Canadian Forces, prompting authorities to warn soldiers not to wear their uniforms in public.

It was a dizzying few days. First, Then, on October 22, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau on October 20, Martin Couture-Rouleau steered parked his car by the National War Memorial in his car toward two Canadian Forces soldiers and Ottawa and fatally shot an unarmed soldier. He ran them down, killing Warrant Officer Patrice then drove to Parliament Hill, carjacked a Vincent and injuring the second soldier. limousine and stormed in through the main door Couture-Rouleau waited in his parked car for of the Parliament building. A frantic firefight two hours before choosing his target. The followed with House of Commons Sergeant-at- incident happened in St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, a Arms Kevin Vickers eventually delivering the community 40 kilometres southeast of Montreal. shot that subdued the gunman. Couture-Rouleau was later spotted by police and, after a brief car chase, he was shot dead Investigators soon learned that Zehaf-Bibeau during an altercation with pursuing officers. was also a convert to Islam and vocally supported ISIS and other militant groups. While Couture-Rouleau had converted to Islam a year he didn’t have his passport seized, he was before the incident and openly espoused radical having a great deal of difficulty getting his views that supported the efforts of ISIS and passport renewed so he could make a trip to other hostile groups. He was considered so Libya. Zehaf-Bibeau felt that officials were radical that he was listed by the RCMP among stonewalling his efforts to secure a passport, 90 Canadians who posed a serious internal threat delaying the process at every turn. to ’s national security. Not long before the attack, the RCMP had seized his passport — Both incidents sent Canadians into shock. Was an incident that may have been a catalyst for his Canada becoming a hub for lone-wolf terrorist actions. attacks? Was Canada’s Parliament safe? Were

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DECEMBER 2014 – JUSTIN BOURQUE'S VIOLENT RAGE

Canadians being punished for choosing to enter To consider the fray against ISIS? How many more deranged militants would place a target on the backs of 1. In the days following the attack in Ottawa, Canadian Forces personnel? NDP leader Thomas Mulcair labelled the actions of Zehaf-Bibeau “criminal” but not Prime Minister Stephen Harper addressed the the work of a terrorist. He claimed, “When nation in the aftermath of the attacks and said, you look at the history of the individual “This is a grim reminder that Canada is not involved, you see a criminal act, of course. immune to the types of terrorist attacks we have But...I think that we’re not in the presence of seen elsewhere around the world. Canada will a terrorist act in the sense that we would never be intimidated.” NDP Leader Thomas understand it.” Mulcair said that the attacks on Canada’s institutions “only succeeded in drawing us What do you think? Were the actions of closer, in making us stronger.” And Liberal Couture-Rouleau and Zehaf-Bibeau acts of leader Justin Trudeau encouraged Canadians to terrorism or were they the work of madmen? refuse to surrender to terrorist inspired fear, saying, “They mean to shake us. We will remain 2. Justin Trudeau reached out to Muslim resolved.” Canadians in the aftermath of the attacks, saying, “And to our friends and fellow The next day, members of parliament returned to citizens in the Muslim community, the House of Commons. Kevin Vickers entered Canadians know acts such as these to a standing ovation, a gesture that clearly committed in the name of Islam are an moved the sergeant-at-arms. Before the session aberration of your faith. Continued mutual began, Prime Minister Harper crossed the floor cooperation and respect will help prevent the of the House and greeted opposition leaders with influence of distorted ideological an embrace. This meeting of parliamentarians, propaganda posing as religion. We will walk the day after an attack on some of Canada’s forward together, not apart.” most prized institutions, demonstrated an unprecedented show of solidarity — a solidarity In the wake of the attacks, how important do that may prove invaluable if more lone-wolf you think this message is for Canadians — terrorist attacks are on the horizon. both Muslim and non-Muslim alike?

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DECEMBER 2014 – PARLIAMENT HILL SHOOTINGS

VIDEO REVIEW

Pre‐viewing

On October 8, 2014, the leaders of the RCMP and CSIS told a House of Commons committee that 130 people have left Canada to join terrorist groups and another 80 have returned to Canada after terrorist ventures. They also said that over 90 individuals are being investigated for potential threats to Canada’s national security.

1. How safe do you feel knowing this information?

2. What should Canadian authorities do to protect the nation from terrorist attacks?

While viewing

1. What chaotic and frightening attack took place on October 22, 2014?

2. How did Prime Minister Stephen Harper respond to the attack?

3. Who did the gunman go after first?

4. Why were people already on edge the day the gunman attacked in Ottawa?

5. a) Where did Michael Zehaf-Bibeau first attack?

b) Where did he attack second?

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DECEMBER 2014 – PARLIAMENT HILL SHOOTINGS

6. How much time elapsed between the first shot and the last shot in the House of Commons?

7. Who was meeting in the caucus room along the Hall of Honour when Michael Zehaf-Bibeau attacked?

8. What common themes did the political party leaders share when it came to the events that day in Ottawa?

9. Was Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s attack a terrorist action in your opinion? Why or why not?

10. What did the Integrated Terrorism Assessment Centre do to alert Canadians that a threat may have been on the horizon?

11. What was the saddest thing Rex Murphy saw the day of the attack in Ottawa?

12. Who did Rex Murphy identify as a hero?

13. a) How is the Harper government trying to help CSIS deal with terrorist threats?

b) Why are opposition critics concerned about this legislation?

14. What evidence was there that Michael Zehaf-Bibeau held radical views?

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DECEMBER 2014 – PARLIAMENT HILL SHOOTINGS

15. Besides his radical views, what other personal problem served to cloud Zehaf-Bibeau’s judgment?

16. What role did Zehaf-Bibeau’s failure to obtain a passport play in the attack in Ottawa?

17. According to Lieutenant-Colonel Steve Day, how would an armed, uniformed presence have helped at the National War Memorial?

18. What did Steve Day think of the job done by officers inside the Parliament building that day?

19. a) What does Steve Day think needs to be done to improve security on Parliament Hill?

b) What changes were made to improve security on Parliament Hill?

Post‐viewing

This News in Review story features an editorial delivered by Rex Murphy on The National. Murphy says the following in his Point of View piece:

The murder of fine, fit, friendly and unarmed Corporal Nathan Cirillo was not a thoughtless act. “Instead, it was soaked in callousness and contempt. The slaughter was meant to burn beyond the deed itself, to speak fundamental insult to the very ideas of honour, sacrifice and solidarity, which are our military's credo and our country's ideals. The killer was a hateful brute. Let us not name him.

But today was not the damn killer's. It produced a master counterexample: the Sergeant‐at‐Arms, Mr. Kevin Vickers. Mr. Vickers, the whole country is unanimous: on all the matters that count —bravery, duty, selflessness — you are as good as they get. The office of sergeant‐at‐arms can never have been better filled. ” News in Review ∙ CBC Learning ∙ newsinreview.cbclearning.ca 28

DECEMBER 2014 – PARLIAMENT HILL SHOOTINGS

Post‐viewing, continued…

1. Why does Murphy refuse to name the killer?

2. Why does Murphy think that Vickers is a hero?

3. List the virtues that Murphy highlights in his opinion piece. Do you agree with Murphy’s view when he says, “The slaughter was meant to burn beyond the deed itself, to speak fundamental insult to the very ideas of honour, sacrifice and solidarity, which are our military's credo and our country's ideals”?

b) Did the killer succeed in destabilizing the fundamental ideals and beliefs held by Canadians? How would you determine this?

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TERROR IN OTTAWA Terrifying, frantic and tragic The whole affair took all of five minutes. Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a self- radicalized gunman who staged an attack on Ottawa, murdered a Canadian soldier before storming Parliament. The incident was terrifying, frantic, and most of all, tragic.

Prelude to an attack War Memorial, noting the honour guards who Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, a petty criminal with a stood attentively behind the Tomb of the longtime drug problem, had grown to hate Unknown Soldier. Canada. Born and raised in Montreal, Zehaf- On the day before his October 22 attack, Zehaf- Bibeau spent his adult life drifting across the Bibeau purchased a Toyota Corolla for $650 country establishing fragile roots in homeless cash. He then drove to his aunt’s house in Mont- shelters in Vancouver and working for a short Tremblant, Quebec. It is believed that Zehaf- time in the oilfields of . His chief demon Bibeau retrieved two knives that he had hidden was addiction, and crack cocaine was his drug of on the property years earlier. He may have also choice. There is little doubt that his crack habit picked up the .30-30 Winchester hunting rifle helped to twist his sense of reality. An adult used in the attack (the source of the gun is still a convert to Islam, Zehaf-Bibeau often voiced his mystery). After dinner with his aunt, he settled passionate support for radical groups like ISIS, down for the night. Early the next day, he got as well as his distorted views what it meant to be into the Corolla and headed for Ottawa. a real Muslim (views that were so extreme he eventually found himself banned from the Michael Zehaf‐Bibeau drove his Toyota Corolla Burnaby mosque where he worshipped). to and from Mont‐Tremblant without license A troubled man plates. Unfortunately, no one in law By the fall of 2014, Zehaf-Bibeau was a very enforcement spotted this traffic infraction and troubled man. The 32-year-old couldn’t hold he made his way to the scene of the crime down a job or give up his crack habit. His mind unimpeded. was sufficiently confused that very few people wanted to have anything to do with him. He never saw it coming Eventually he became very angry and antisocial. Corporal Nathan Cirillo stood guard with his In this state, he hatched his plan. partner and comrade Branden Stevenson at the National War Memorial, just a few feet from the A diabolical plan Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Zehaf-Bibeau Two weeks before he attacked Canada’s parked his car and, rifle at the ready, approached Parliament, he took a tour of the building — the memorial from the rear. He fired twice, casing the scene of his future crime. One can striking Cirillo in the back, before firing a third only assume that he also visited the National shot at Stevenson. He then raced back to his car,

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made a rapid U-turn and parked his car by the addressing his Conservative colleagues and entrance to the East Block of Canada’s Thomas Mulcair was meeting members of the Parliament. Next he carjacked a ministerial NDP. A turn to the left or to the right could have limousine and raced up the hill to the main put the gunman in a room with either the prime entrance of the Parliament building. All this minister or the leader of the opposition. happened in less than two minutes. Vickers leads the charge “Gun! Gun! Gun!” What followed was a brief lull. House of Upon entering Parliament, security guard Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers Samearn Son alertly grabbed the barrel of Zehaf- emerged from his office, pistol in hand after Bibeau’s gun as he ran into the building. While hearing the melee outside. Zehaf-Bibeau hid the two struggled, Son yelled, “Gun! Gun! behind a pillar as security personnel moved Gun!” Then the rifle discharged, wounding Son, down the hallway imploring the gunman to drop and Zehaf-Bibeau made a run for it. his weapon and surrender. Vickers was closest to Zehaf-Bibeau — in fact, he could see the By this time the security forces of Parliament barrel of the shooters rifle. According to reports, Hill were in full response mode. Dozens of Vickers dove to the ground and began emptying officers descended on the scene, shots were his clip into Zehaf-Bibeau. Other officers fired, and Zehaf-Bibeau was wounded as he followed suit and, in short order, Michael Zehaf- sped down the Hall of Honour, right past the Bibeau, riddled with dozens of bullets, lay dead. caucus rooms where Prime Minister Harper was

To consider

1. Why did many observers call Michael Zehaf-Bibeau’s a terrorist after his attack in Ottawa?

2. Radicalization and self-radicalization, particularly among young See our September 2014 News men, is a phenomenon we’ve been hearing about more and more in Review story, “Homegrown in Canada. Terrorism,” to further explore a) Do you think there are ways we can support vulnerable radicalization in Canada. individuals in our communities to prevent their radicalization?

b) Do you think there are any points in Zehaf-Bibeau’s story where others (individuals, institutions) could have supported him to prevent his radicalization?

3. What do you think of the response of the security personnel that day in the Parliament building?

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HEROES

Minds on

1. Can you think of an act of heroism that inspired you? Describe the situation and how the hero responded. 2. Who is the most heroic person you know (whether you actually know them or you have only heard stories of their heroism)? Briefly describe their accomplishments.

The Heroes of October 22 shooting wasn’t some kind of a drill. When she realized the shooting was very real she “ran Nathan Cirillo – Standing guard at Canada’s forward, without thought, just to see what I National War Memorial, Cirillo fell victim to the could do.” She arrived at Cirillo’s side and, attack of a crazed gunman intent on killing a along with Martin Magnan, applied pressure to member of the military. Like all members of one of the soldier’s wounds. Lerhe was the first Canada’s armed forces, Cirillo put himself in the to notice that Cirillo had stopped breathing. line of fire. Barbara Winters – A Justice Department Branden Stevenson – A fellow reservist and lawyer, Winters was on her way to a meeting Cirillo’s partner that day, Stevenson chased the when the gunman attacked Cirillo and gunman after the first shots were fired. The Stevenson. In fact, just minutes before the gunman responded by turning the gun on attack, Winters took a picture of the two men on Stevenson, just missing him with his shot. ceremonial duty near the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. After walking away, Winters heard Martin Magnan – On his way meet a friend at three pops. Instinctively she knew shots had the Rideau Centre, Magnan, a communications been fired and the soldiers were the target. She advisor at the Department of National Defence, ran back to the National War Memorial and heard the shots and headed straight for the headed straight to Nathan Cirillo’s side. By the National War Memorial. He remembers seeing time she arrived Martin Magnan and Margaret the gunman and not really being conscious of Lerhe were applying pressure to Cirillo’s what was happening. He just knew he had to get wounds. Winters did her best to calm the soldier. to the fallen soldier. By the time he arrived, the Though he was unconscious, she told Cirillo that gunman had fled and a man in a military he was a good and brave man, that his family uniform was telling him to put pressure on one loved him and his military family loved him. of Cirillo’s two bullet wounds. He did his part as She repeated these things to him, even when five people surrounded Cirillo and tried Cirillo stopped moving and they couldn’t find a desperately to save his life. Magnan said the pulse. She later said, “I hope he heard people team of strangers worked in unison but to no helping him and praising him.” avail. Later he said, “At the time, I just felt so small.” Samearn Son – An unarmed security guard stationed at the main doors of the Margaret Lerhe – A local nurse, Lerhe was where the gunman entered the Parliament walking to work. She reported being stunned by building, Son noticed the rifle and attempted to what was happening and wondered if the

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wrestle it out of the gunman’s hands. Son was shooting started. He retrieved his pistol and left shot in the leg in the ensuing scuffle and is his office which is adjacent to the Hall of credited with slowing the gunman enough to Honour. By this time, the gunman had hidden allow other security personnel to arm themselves behind a large column near the entrance of the and mobilize to address the threat. After his Library of Parliament. Security personnel confrontation with the gunman, Son limped out informed Vickers of the gunman’s location. of the building and, when asked by a CBC Noticing the barrel of the rifle sticking out from cameraman if he was alright, he replied, “I’ll behind the column, Vickers took a calculated survive.” risk: he dove to the ground and, sliding past the gunman, fired several shots, immobilizing the Kevin Vickers – The House of Commons gunman. Other security personnel moved in and Sergeant-at-Arms was in his office when the also fired on the gunman.

To consider

1. Martin Magnan and Margaret Lerhe remember hearing the sirens approaching and looking up. What they saw surprised them: instead of an ambulance they saw a crowd of people taking pictures of the scene with their smartphone cameras. Do you think it was disrespectful of people to take pictures or film the final moments of Nathan Cirillo’s life?

2. On November 3, Branden Stevenson resumed his sentry duties at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Prior to his return, Stevenson released a statement that read (in part): “In the coming days, I'll be resuming my duties at the National War Memorial. It will not be an easy task, but I am resolved to do it in honour of Nathan, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, and all those who stood, and continue to stand, on guard for Canada.” Why do you think it was important for Stevenson to return to the National War Memorial?

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