Residents of Ottawa are rallying together after a gunman stormed the National War Memorial and Parliament on Wednesday, killing one member of the Canadian armed forces.
As Canadian authorities encouraged a return to normalcy on Thursday, Twitter users were eager to share their pride in Ottawa using the hashtag #MyOttawa.
100s of people doing yoga on the Hill -3 weeks ago. I hope we find a way to share our public spaces safely. #myottawa pic.twitter.com/lflmhbxN0x— Suzanne Cowan (@suzcowan) October 23, 2014
The hashtag is not new, but has taken on new meaning after Wednesday's attack. In light of what Prime Minister Stephen Harper called a terrorist attack on the city, Canada's national pride and unity has become quite evident, and the hashtag has soared.
Ottawans' pride in their city was plain to see on Thursday morning, and many Twitter users seemed eager to share what being from the city meant to them.
#MyOttawa is full of pride, ALWAYS! pic.twitter.com/XLMhRmEqQO— Sophie Desrosiers (@SophDesrosiers) October 23, 2014
Some focused on the unique elements of the city -- such as this Twitter user who posted a photo of Ottawa's elaborate Chinatown Royal Arch.
And the best Chinese gate in Canada. #MyOttawa pic.twitter.com/BHzcYlRchE— Darcy Knoll (@darcyknoll) October 23, 2014
This Ottawan living abroad shared her pride from thousands of miles away in the UK.
Sitting on banks of Thames. Reading #myottawa! Makes me so proud to be from Ottawa. Ottawa taught me: Fairness. Hope. Aspiration. Resilience— Karen Edge (@drkarenedge) October 23, 2014
Others were nostalgic for their time spent in the Canadian capital.
I have always kept the summer I lived in Ottawa in my heart. Beautiful city! #MyOttawa pic.twitter.com/ZnvLRLHzj4— Trish Koning (@nishgirl23) October 23, 2014
The overwhelming message from those in and from Ottawa: let's get through this together.
#MyOttawa is strong and we will get through yesterday's tragic incident together. Today is a new day: lets be there for each other.— Mathieu Fleury (@MathieuFleury) October 23, 2014