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BrothersharesCanadianheroslinktotheNWT16TuesdayNovember112014WeRememberWeRememberTheyshallgrownotoldaswethatareleftgrowoldAgeshallnotwearythemnortheyearscondemn.AtthegoingdownofthesunandinthemorningWewillrememberthem.ExcerptfromOdeofRemembrancebyLawrenceBinyonContractingLtd.1BreynatStreetFortSmithNT867872-4567WALLYSDRUGSBreynatStreetFortSmith867872-2134REMEMBRANCEDAYisnotaboutdivision.Itisaboutreconciliation.Itisaboutcomingtogethertohonourthosewhogavetheirall.GuardianTMByDALICARMICHAELBynowmostCanadiansknowthenameKevinVickerstheSergeant-at-ArmswhotookdownParliamentHillshooterMichaelZehaf-BibeauonOct.22haltingwhatcouldhavebeenarampagethatleftonesoldierdeadattheNationalWarMemorialinOttawa.WhatCanadiansmightnotknowabouttheirnationalheroisthatVickershasastrongconnectiontotheNorthwestTerritoriesafterservingasanRCMPofcerthereforade-cade-one-thirdofhis29-yearcareerwiththefederalpolice.KevinreallyenjoyedhistimeintheNorthhisyoungerbrotherWillVickersateacheratWeledehCatholicSchoolinYellowknifesharedwithTheJournal.Hehighlyrespectedtheeldershelistenedtothemandlearnedfromthemaswell.Hedidthatineverycom-munityhewasin.Willsaidhisbrotherrstcametotheter-ritoryinthelate1970sasayoungMountieaftertraininginMooseJawSask.andput-tinginabriefstintinPeterboroughOnt.Willwasntsurprisedbyhisbrothersca-reerchoice.GrowingupinMiramichiNBhedescribedKevinastheleaderofhissiblingstheoldestbrotherthatkeptevery-oneincheck.Attheageof19hetradedinhislongshaggylockstypicalofthe1970sforabuzzcutaftersigninguptojointheMountedPolice.HewenttoBehchoko-FortRaeashecalledit-andjustlovedhistimethereWillsaid.KevinspenttwoyearsinRaeandthenin1981hecameintoYellowknifeandworkedinmajorcrimes.TwoyearslatertheconstablewhostartedhisfamilyinYellowknifecrossedGreatSlaveLaketotakeovertheFortResolutiondetach-ment.ThatswhenWillablossomingteacherfollowedhisbrotherNorth.Iappliedforeverywhere-JamaicaBer-muda-andtheonlyplacethatinterviewedmewasFortResolutionhesaid.Itwasgreatformehavingmybrotherandhisfamilythere.KevinremainedstationedintheNWTforeightyears.WewouldwatchhockeyonSaturdaynightsthathewasntworkinginFortResWillsaid.Wespentalotoftimedoingfamilypicnicsgoingoutontheislandsorpackinguptheski-dooandheadingoutintothebush.KevinwouldgoontoworkinCalgaryforanotherdecadefollowedbyaperiodathomeinNewBrunswickwherehewasmadeincidentcommanderduringtheBurningChurchcrisis.HewouldalsobecometheChiefSuperintendentoftheRCMPintheearly2000sanddirector-generaloftheAb-originalpoliceservicesbranchbeforelay-ingdownhisbadgeandsteppingintotheHouseofCommons.In2008followinghisretirementfromtheRCMPKevinwroteashortreectiononhistimeinBehchokofortheRCMPGravespub-licationacollectionofMountieshistoricalmoments.ThepiecetellsofKevinsrelation-shipwithSpecialConstableVitalThomasanAboriginalpolicemanfromRaewhowas82whenthetwokneweachother.Thearticlerelatesastoryofacoldwin-ternightin1926whenThomastriedtosavethelifeofhispartnerCst.FrederickRhodesaftertheunfortunateofcersus-tainedburnsalloverhisbodyinastovere.ThomasattemptedtotransportRhodestowhatwasthenthenearesthospitalinFortSmitha300-kmdogsledrideacrossGreatSlaveLake.Adverseweathercondi-tionsfoiledThomasattemptbutthestorystuckwithKevin.LetusneverforgetthetremendousdebtweowetoCanadasAboriginalpeopleinaid-ingourforefatherstocarryouttheirdutiesKevinwrote.ConstableFrederickRhodesandSpecialConstableVitalThomasyouarethereasonIforeverwillbeproudthatIhadthetremendousprivilegeforbeingaMountedPoliceman.Abrother-at-armsDuringtheeventsofOct.22Willwaspre-paringhisclassroomfortheday.HeheardofthechaosinOttawafromafellowstaffmemberandcontactedhisfamilymembersrightaway.WhenWilldiscoveredbulletshadbeenredinsidetheCentreBlockheimmedi-atelytextedKevinaskingifhewasallright.WithinhalfaminuteKevinrepliedwithWillyImjustne.AfterthatIfeltreliefWillsaid.Imgladhewasattherightplaceattherighttime.Imquiteproudofhimfordoingwhathedid.PetitionsaroundthecountryarenowcallingforthefederalgovernmenttoawardKevinwiththeMedalofValouroneofthehighesthonoursinthecountry.AccordingtohisbrotherKevinVickersdoesntseehimselfasaherohewasjustapoliceof-cerdoinghisjob.PhotoFacebookWillVickershasfondmemoriesofhisbrotherSgt-at-ArmsKevinVickerslivingintheNWTandworkingasanRCMPofcer.REMEMBRANCEDAY2014