Honourable senators, October 22, 2014, is a day none of us here will ever forget. It’s impossible to remember that morning without thinking of how normal it began — the quiet streets, the familiar routine and the steady rhythm of work on Parliament Hill.

Then, out of nowhere, the sudden confusion, the sound of sirens, the lockdowns, the overwhelming sense that something we had taken for granted — our safety in this place — had been profoundly shaken.

Today, on the eleventh anniversary since the attack, we remember Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who was killed while standing guard at the National War Memorial. We remember Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, whose life was taken in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu just two days prior. We hold their families in our thoughts, along with those who were injured, both physically and in ways that linger far longer.

Even now, the emotions tied to that day remain close, and so does the deep respect that many of us carry for the people who responded so quickly and courageously: first responders, the RCMP and the security teams on the Hill, who put themselves between danger and the rest of us without a moment’s hesitation; parliamentary staff, officials and office-holders, who held steady throughout the chaos — many locked down, many unsure what was unfolding, but all committed to looking out for one another.

Every day since then, seeing the Parliamentary Protective Service officers stationed at our entrances, standing watch over our buildings, is a quiet but consistent and constant reminder of that day, the events that led us here and the responsibility every one of those officers takes every single day to keep us safe. That duty, born out of that tragic moment, is carried out with quiet professionalism and no small amount of courage, and we are deeply grateful to them.

We don’t take that for granted, honourable colleagues: not the safety, not the service and not the responsibility that comes with being here. What was attacked on that day was the heart of our democracy, a space that stands for freedom, safety and the right of all Canadians to be represented here.

So as we remember, we also recommit to protecting those values, carrying out our responsibilities with purpose and ensuring this place remains strong, open and safe for all those who work and serve here. Thank you, honourable colleagues, and thanks to all involved in our security on the Hill.