'Outstanding courage': RCMP to honour 20 for response to 2014 Ottawa shooting

Twenty people will receive awards later this month to recognize the bravery they showed while responding to the shootings at the National War Memorial and Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa in October 2014.

The 20 commendations will be awarded during a private ceremony Nov. 23 at RCMP headquarters in Ottawa, according to an RCMP media release issued Monday.

The event will be hosted by RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson and Assistant Commissioner Gilles Michaud, who is commanding officer of the RCMP's national division.

• Complete CBC coverage of the Oct. 22, 2014 shooting
• Day of chaos remembered 1 year later
• 6 people still bound by effort to save Cpl. Nathan Cirillo

The awards break down as follows:

• Twelve RCMP members will receive the Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery, "a prestigious distinction awarded through a rigorous and documented process to those who have demonstrated outstanding courage in the face of extremely dangerous and volatile circumstances which are not commonly encountered in police work and which pose an imminent threat of grievous harm, personal injury or death," according to the RCMP media release.
• Six civilians will also receive the Commissioner's Commendation for Bravery, "for rendering outstanding assistance to a law enforcement representative while demonstrating outstanding courage and bravery under hazardous or exceptional conditions."
• And two Commander's Commendations will be given to RCMP members "to honour their bravery in the face of dangerous circumstances which gave rise to the potential for grievous harm, bodily injury or death."

On Oct. 22, 2014, gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau shot and killed Cpl. Nathan Cirillo as Cirillo stood guard at the National War Memorial. Moments later, Zehaf-Bibeau stormed Parliament Hill's Centre Block and was shot dead himself in a hail of gunfire.

The names of the people receiving bravery awards later this month are not being released by RCMP.