Ottawa shooting has military, families on edge

After a soldier in Ottawa was shot and killed and Parliament Hill was attacked by at least one gunman, members of the military in Nova Scotia and their families are reacting to the news.

One military member, who declined to give his name, spoke to CBC News outside of the dockyard at CFB Halifax.

• For the latest on the Parliament Hill attack, click here
• Soldier shooting in Ottawa has Nova Scotia MPs on lockdown

"It was pretty scary. You just don’t know, any part of the country, what might happen at any given time," he said.

"It’s something that’s beyond your control, so you really can’t do much about it."

Another member, who also declined to give his name, calls what’s happening in Ottawa "unreal."

He said, however, he feels safe.

"I wouldn’t say I’m really worried. I’m just saying that we have to watch out for what’s going on."

He said he isn’t afraid to wear his uniform.

"I still feel proud. I’m still going to wear it. I’m not scared," he said.

"I don’t feel targeted at all."

Alysha Prouse’s boyfriend is currently aboard HMCS Toronto, which is helping to keep an eye on the situation in Ukraine.

She said when things like this happen at home, it makes families worry even more about their loved ones overseas.  

"It’s devastating because one person gets shot … and your spouse is out there and you’re like, ‘Oh what’s going on now?’ And when you don’t hear from them for days upon days, you’re trying to keep it together and you have such a hard time. I don’t know how many times I broke down with my boyfriend being gone," she said.

Prouse said her boyfriend likes being in the military but she worries he won’t return home.

"So many thoughts go through your head. This happens to an officer — that’s an officer, they're high up in the military. What’s going to happen to somebody if they’re not so high up in the military?" she said.

"Why don’t people stop and think about what they do? They’re out there defending us and putting their lives in danger everyday, why would you do that? That poor family is probably going through so much right now."

Prouse said she’s just trying to hold it together.

"I wish he didn't wear his uniform sometimes because it is a target," she said.

A source in the navy tells CBC News that members are being asked to "remain in their respective buildings for the time being and restrict movement in uniform in public as much as possible."