After Canada’s Ambassador to Ireland, Kevin Vickers, tackled a protestor in Dublin on Thursday, locals from his hometown of Miramichi, New Brunswick are weighing in.
Eighteen months ago, as sergeant-at-arms of the House of Commons, he took down an armed gunman on Parliament Hill.
Now, as Canada’s ambassador to Ireland, Vickers took down another unwanted guest - a protestor at a ceremony commemorating the loss of British soldiers in Ireland’s 1916 Easter Rebellion.
The protestor at the ceremony in Dublin was tackled and ran off by Vickers in a matter of a minute. The man was eventually subdued and arrested by police.
Vickers’ actions spread quickly around the country, and residents from his hometown of Miramichi are reacting to his heroics.
“With his background as an RCMP officer for many years, his role was to protect the people,” says Miramichi Mayor Gerry Cormier. “I think it was natural, what he did.”
Miramichi locals are proud to call Vickers one of their own, and support his action.
“I think he did a marvelous job,” says resident Perley Bell. “He jumped in quick and took care of the situation.”
Some residents weren’t surprised by Vickers, and say it’s simply “something that people from Miramichi do.”
“I’m not sure I love the technique,” says resident Ken MacDonald. “I do think it speaks to his personality and what he’s done in the past. I think it’s a good thing.”
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
