In praise of Canada: self-effacing and yet self-possessed

Ottawa is one of those rather sleepy new-world capitals, chosen as a centre of administration due to its strategic position on the border between Ontario and Quebec. Except for some occasionally rowdy political theatre on Parliament Hill, not much happens in the Canadian capital.

That is, until Wednesday, when Islamic convert Michael Zehaf-Bibeau killed a soldier at the National War Memorial before storming the parliament buildings, where he was shot by Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers. The city went into lockdown for a few hours as police determined the scale of the threat. It seemed like Canada was enduring its first modern terror attack, the shooting coming days after another convert knocked down and killed a soldier in Quebec.

Canada though didn’t act terrified. State broadcaster CBC gave live coverage of the attack, of course, but avuncular anchor Peter Mansbridge acted as a voice of calm, refusing to entertain wild speculation about the nature of the threat. After a few hours, CBC reverted to regular programming.

The next day, parliament sat again, with Vickers performing his ceremonial role carrying a large mace into the House of Commons, receiving huge applause with quiet dignity.

And that attitude embodies what makes Canada such an admirable country, so self-effacing and yet self-possessed. The rest of the world could learn a lot from the place.