Penticton politicians, veterans and residents described the shootings in Ottawa as shocking and disturbing, as they went about their business on Wednesday.
Suzanne Moccia, a Penticton resident who works for an Ottawa company, said it is super unsettling.
"That part of Ottawa is generally a really safe area, a place that is familiar that I walked through for three years of my life," she said. "And then to see the images of the police and everybody being blocked off and hearing from my co-workers they are in lockdown is totally troubling."
A reservist, who has since been identified as Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, was shot and killed at the War Memorial in Ottawa Wednesday morning. Witnesses say he was shot point blank by a masked, rifle-wielding gunman, who then moved up the street to launch an attack on nearby Parliament Hill, in which at least two people were injured.
The gunman killed inside Parliament is said to be Michael Zehaf-Bibeau.
Mayor Garry Litke said he was made of aware of what happened Wednesday and that they may have to consider the level of security at City Hall.
"We will be looking at that," he said.
MLA Dan Ashton is at the BC Legislature in Victoria, and could not comment on what is happening there. Of the incident itself, he said, "It's a terrible atrocity, and our hearts go out to the family of the soldier who was killed."
Dick Knorr, Ashton's constituency assistant, said they already have security measures in place if anything was to happen at the MLA's office in Penticton, so there was no need to step up the security today.
Murray Grandy, president of the Penticton branch of the Royal Canadian Legion, said he too thought it was terrible.
"This country needs to get its defences ready for more of this kind of thing," he said. "Because more is going to happen."
Penticton resident and Royal Canadian Air Force Veteran Alan Kidd, said everyone was very emotional right now about what has taken place.
"Things have changed for Canada, we are no longer an innocent nation and we are no longer able to say we are not involved," he said. "This is not an accident, it took place in Ottawa at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and in the heart of our parliament. It was a well planned event and did not happen off the cuff."
Penticton RCMP Sgt. Rick Dellebuur reported there are no plans to step up RCMP patrols in the city at this time.
The flag at City Hall is also flying at half-mast to mark the events in Ottawa.