Brock University on Wednesday (Oct 22) lowered its flags to half-mast to honour Corporal Nathan Cirillo, the Canadian soldier slain that morning in an an attack by a gunman near Parliament Hill.

Cpl. Cirillo was shot as he performed sentry duty at the National War Memorial in downtown Ottawa. The gunman then went to the nearby Parliament buildings where shooting continued, at least two other persons were injured and gunman himself was eventually killed by security personnel.

Cpl. Cirillo served with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, a reserve regiment based in Hamilton, where Brock has a campus.

Under Brock policy, University flags are placed a half-mast in the event of the death of a member of the Brock community; or the death of a current or former prime minister or Ontario premier; or at the discretion of the University President in the event of a major disaster or other exceptional cases.