Parliament Hill hero Kevin Vickers returns to Regina

Former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers speaks at a Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday in Regina.

A standing ovation greeted former sergeant-at-arms Kevin Vickers as he took the stage at a Regina Chamber of Commerce breakfast Thursday.

Vickers said he's now earning a paycheque to deliver a message about Canada's prosperity in a growing free-trade marketplace.

Still, his heroic actions as a gunman opened fire in the halls of Parliament on Oct. 22 are a silent companion.

"I just keep reiterating to everybody that October 22nd was not about me. It was a wonderful team effort,” Vickers said.

“There were many heroes that day. It was not about Kevin Vickers, October 22nd; it's about Canada and the resiliency of Canadians."

Vickers received an honorary doctorate of law Thursday afternoon from the University of Regina. It's a special honour he said, because it comes from a school in a city where his career began 39 years ago.

"I have so much to be thankful to Saskatchewan and in particular to the people of Saskatchewan,” he said.

“You know, I came here as a 19-year-old boy and I left here a man. The people of Saskatchewan, of Regina, made me who I am."

Vickers says his new role has been both challenging and fulfilling. He says Saskatchewan plays a key role in his message, calling the province an economic driver.

"I see Saskatchewan as being the new economic engine of Canada,” Vickers said.

“The European Union is already Saskatchewan's third-largest trading partner and export destination. CETA will eliminate tariffs on almost all of Saskatchewan's key exports.”

On Friday, Vickers will return to a place which holds special memories, the RCMP Depot, for a tour and an opportunity to inspect a troop.

Based on a report by CTV Regina’s Darrell Romuld