Yesterday morning, Sergeant at Arms Kevin Vickers was just that guy who totes a giant golden mace around the Canadian Parliament. Yesterday afternoon, Kevin Vickers became a global hero as he stopped an active shooter in his tracks. This morning, as he did his ceremonial entrance to Parliament, Kevin Vickers got a standing ovation for his bravery and quick-thinking. 

As Kevin Vickers carried the ceremonial golden mace into the House of Commons on Thursday, MPs and staff rose to their feet to applaud his bravery the day before. Prime Minister Stephen Harper crossed the House to shake his hand, hug him, and then hugged opposition leaders Tom Mulcair and Justin Trudeau.

Less than a day earlier, Vickers was credited with shooting and killing the gunman who stormed parliament after having killed a soldier at the national war memorial down the street.

Many of the MPs and leaders rose to pay tribute to the Parliament’s security forces and to speak on the subject of terrorism.