Argylls honour Nathan Cirillo with sunset ceremony

One year after Cpl. Nathan Cirillo's death gripped the nation, his former unit has planned a sunset ceremony in Hamilton to honour the reservist's service and support his family.

"What we all need is to have a commemorative ceremony to celebrate Nathan's life, not his death," said Lt.-Col. Peter St. Denis of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada.

• READ MORE: Cpl. Nathan Cirillo mourned at funeral in Hamilton
• READ MORE: What it's like to hear a city mourn

The ceremony will take place at the Bayfront Park Pavillion on Oct. 21, and will incorporate members of the unit, veterans, and the Cirillo family themselves.

The Argyllspadre will talk about Cirillo on behalf of the family, who are not expected to speak.

As the first anniversary of Cirillo's death on Oct. 22 approaches, attention is mounting from all over, St. Denis told CBC News. The Argylls are hoping to lessen the pressure on the family by speaking about the young father, and helping Canadians remember his sacrifice.

"As it gets closer, I think their anxiety level gets higher," St. Denis said. "It still affects them when they see a picture of Nathan on the ground."

"I can't even imagine what they're thinking at this point in time."

The Bayfront proceedings are intended to be an "intimate ceremony" for the unit and Cirillo's family, St. Denis said, but are still open to the public.

After the Bayfront ceremony, the Argylls will march up James Street North to the John Weir Foote Armoury, and the public is welcome to come and show support, St. Denis said.

Thousands of Hamiltonians lined the streets both on the night that Cirillo's body was brought back to Hamilton and for a full regimental funeral, which attracted international attention and was attended by federal party leaders Stephen Harper, Justin Trudeau and Tom Mulcair.

"The city has been extremely supportive of this unit," St. Denis said.

Cirillo, 24, was guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the National War Memoriallast year when a gunman approached from behind and fatally shot him.

The Bayfront Park ceremony celebrating his life is set to start around 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday, and will commence as the sun goes down.

Both the family and the regiment have been "mutually supporting each other," St. Denis said, and keeping each other strong over the last year.

"We try to be a pillar for them, and they're a pillar for us, too."

An Ancaster leash-free dog park where Cirillo regularly walked his dogs will also officially be named in his honour on Tuesday at 1 p.m.

adam.carter@cbc.ca