There was an overwhelming show of solidarity at the National War Memorial in Ottawa and at cenotaphs across the country, as people held vigils to mark the end of a violent week in which two Canadian soldiers were killed.
A number of vigils took place across the country on Saturday to honour Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, who was killed by gunfire Ottawa Wednesday, and Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, who died in a separate attack Monday in Quebec.
As preparations are being made for the funeral of Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, communities across the country held vigils to mark the end of a violent week.
At the National War Memorial, where Cpl. Cirillo was gunned down, an estimated 800 to 1,000 people gathered shortly after 8 p.m. The glow from their candles lit up the mounds of flowers and wreathes placed at the foot of the monument earlier in the day.
Visitors also toured the grounds of Parliament Hill, which re-opened to the public Friday night. Tours inside the building will resume on Monday and visitors will be even allowed to attend Question Period.
Across town at the Canadian Tire Centre, Ottawa Senators and New Jersey Devils hockey players gathered at centre ice with soldiers from Cirillo鈥檚 division in Hamilton and first responders, as the arena observed a moment of silence.
Visitation for the 24-year-old soldier will take place in his hometown of Hamilton, Ont., on Sunday and Monday, ahead of the Tuesday funeral service at Christ鈥檚 Church Cathedral.
Tuesday鈥檚 service is restricted to invited guests, but the public will be able to watch it over a video link at the First Ontario Centre, located at 101 York Boulevard, according to the Department of National Defence.
Mourners in Cirillo's hometown of Hamilton brought flowers and flags to the armoury. Hundreds of people wrote personal messages on a flag taped to the wall.
"It was important for me to come because obviously, we knew him a little bit," a young boy said at the vigil.
Earlier in the day, a crowd gathered at Montreal's war memorial to pay their respects. They came wearing Canadian colours of red and white, along with poppies and Canadian flags.
Their numbers grew throughout the afternoon as passersby spontaneously joined in the vigil. Some laid red and white roses at the foot of the memorial.
In Halifax, former cadet David Harrison stood guard at the cenotaph through much of the afternoon.
"When I found out the age of the reservist in Ottawa, that made me want to come down," Harrison told CTV Atlantic.
And people gathered in the rain in Vancouver鈥檚 Victory Square Saturday morning.
鈥淓ven though it happened in Ottawa, it feels like it happened right here,鈥� said Keith McAdam, who brought his son Liam to the vigil.
Meanwhile, the RCMP continue to investigate the origin of the 30-30 Winchester rifle used in the shooting.
The rifle has been described as an old-fashioned, lever-action weapon better suited for hunting than storming a government building.
The assailant, Michael Zehaf-Bibeau, was shot dead inside Parliament's Centre Block.
Although Parliament Hill re-opened to the public late Friday, there is heightened security in the hallways, and armed police at the nearby National War Memorial.
