Bernard Cameron, town councillor, and another man die after shooting at Almonte home
CBC News | Posted: February 11, 2016 2:48 PM | Last Updated: February 12, 2016
Politician's daughter remains in hospital with serious injuries
A municipal politician who died from a gunshot wound in his home west of Ottawa this morning has been described as "the warmest person you would ever want to meet."
A second man found at the home with a gunshot wound died later in hospital and the politician's daughter, who was also shot, remains in hospital in serious condition.
Bernard Cameron, 65, a councillor for the Almonte Ward in the town of Mississippi Mills, Ont., was a "very well known, very loved guy," said Mayor Shaun McLaughlin.
"We're all in shock," he said.
Ontario Provincial Police Const. David Bird said investigators are still trying to figure out what led to the violence, but said police are not searching for suspects.
"We are satisfied, at this point, that there is no specific threat to the public in the area as a result of this particular incident," he said.
Cameron's 28-year-old daughter, Sarah, and a 33-year-old man she had been involved with, were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Sarah's condition improved, and she was alert and speaking Thursday afternoon, said Carolyn DellaForesta, her supervisor at Almonte Country Haven, the retirement home where she works.
Friends and colleagues told CBC News that Sarah's relationship was troubled.
He was 'like a big bear,' friend says
Family friend Jan Legere described Bernard Cameron, a former high school teacher, as a big, burly, lovable man known for his handlebar moustache.
"Like a big bear. The warmest person you would ever want to meet," she said.
Legere, who previously worked with Sarah at an Almonte daycare, described her as a "bubbly, outgoing, loving, loving mother," of two young children.
"It shouldn't happen to anybody but it shouldn't happen to the Camerons," Legere said. "They're the pillar of society, the nicest people."
A vigil was to be held at the Almonte Town Hall Thursday night.
'Going to take forever to get through this'
The shootings stunned the small community in the former mill town located about 50 kilometres west of Ottawa.
"You always expect that these kinds of things happen elsewhere. Nobody ever expects it's going to happen in your little town, and nobody expects it's going to happen to your friend and your colleague," the mayor said.
Cameron's wife is also a retired school teacher.
"It's a gut-wrenching, terrible thing they have to go through. I really have sympathy for them. It's going to take forever to get through this, and it's going to filter all the way through this town," he said.
"We're going to miss him. He was a great asset to the town, to the council and to his whole community. It's just the last thing you ever want to happen."
Officers responded to Cameron's mansion on Strathburn Street in Almonte, close to Highway 29, at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police said in a media release.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122.