Kevin Vickers to be honoured by Israeli Knesset
Sergeant-at-arms, who ended gunman's attack on Parliament Hill, is in Tel Aviv for security conference
Israeli parliamentarians will honour Canada's sergeant-at-arms, Kevin Vickers, on Wednesday for the actions he took during the shootings on Parliament Hill.
On Oct. 22, Vickers, 58, shot Michael Zehaf-Bibeau after the gunman stormed Parliament Hill.
Vickers is being invited to Israel's parliament, the Knesset, to meet his Israeli counterpart and talk about security. While there, he will be recognized by the speaker of the Knesset and will be asked to rise in his seat in the gallery to be acknowledged by Israeli legislators.
Vickers is in Israel to attend a major conference on security in Tel Aviv, a trip planned long before the shootings in Ottawa. He is part of a delegation sponsored by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs that includes other Canadian police and security officials.
Vickers has garnered international acclaim in the wake of the Oct. 22 attack. When he arrived at the conference on Sunday, he was given a standing ovation.
"The International Conference on Homeland Security in Tel Aviv opened with calling Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers to the stage to acknowledge him for his courage," said former public safety minister Stockwell Day, who is also attending the conference.
"Vickers deflected all praise to the parliamentary security team," Day continued. "It was a proud moment for us Canadians."