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Ottawa

Bernard Cameron, town councillor, and another man die after shooting at Almonte home

A municipal politician who died from a gunshot wound in his home west of Ottawa earlier today has been described as "the warmest person you would ever want to meet." A second man taken from the home with a gunshot wound died later in hospital and the politician's daughter remains in hospital in serious condition.

Politician's daughter remains in hospital with serious injuries

Bernard Cameron, a second-term councillor in Mississippi Mills, Ont., was found dead in his home on Thursday morning. (Lois Siegel Productions)

A municipal politician who died from a gunshot wound in his home west of Ottawa this morning has been described as "the warmest person you would ever want to meet."

A second man found at the home with a gunshot wound died later in hospital and the politician's daughter, who was also shot, remains in hospital in serious condition.

Bernard Cameron, 65, a councillor for the Almonte Ward inthe town of Mississippi Mills, Ont., was a "very well known, very loved guy," said Mayor Shaun McLaughlin.

"We're all in shock," he said.

Sarah Cameron, daughter of Bernard Cameron and the mother of two young children, is being treated in hospital after being shot. (Facebook)

Ontario Provincial PoliceConst.DavidBird said investigators are still trying to figure out what led to the violence, but said police are not searching for suspects.

"We are satisfied, at this point, that there is no specific threat to the public in the area as a result of this particular incident," he said.

Cameron's 28-year-old daughter, Sarah, and a 33-year-old man she had been involvedwith,were taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Sarah's condition improved, and shewas alert and speaking Thursday afternoon, said Carolyn DellaForesta, her supervisor at Almonte Country Haven, the retirement home where she works.

Friends and colleagues told CBC News thatSarah'srelationship was troubled.

He was 'like a big bear,' friend says

Family friend Jan Legere described Bernard Cameron, a former high school teacher, as a big, burly, lovable man known for his handlebar moustache.

"Like a big bear. The warmest person you would ever want to meet," she said.

Legere, who previously worked with Sarah at an Almonte daycare, described her as a "bubbly, outgoing, loving, loving mother," of two young children.

"It shouldn't happen to anybody but it shouldn't happen to theCamerons,"Legeresaid. "They're the pillar of society, the nicest people."

A vigil was to be held at the Almonte Town Hall Thursday night.

'Going to take forever to get through this'

The shootings stunned the small community in the former mill town located about 50 kilometres west of Ottawa.

Mayor of Mississippi Mills mourns colleague shot dead

9 years ago
Duration 0:37
Bernard Cameron, a second-term councillor for Almonte Ward in the town of Mississippi Mills, Ont., was killed in a domestic shooting at his home, the mayor confirmed.

"You always expect that these kinds of things happen elsewhere. Nobody ever expects it's going to happen in your little town, and nobody expects it's going to happen to your friend and your colleague," the mayor said.

Cameron's wife is also a retired school teacher.

"It's a gut-wrenching, terrible thing they have to go through. I really have sympathy for them. It's going to take forever to get through this, and it's going to filter all the way through this town," he said.

"We're going to miss him. He was a great asset to the town, to the council and to his whole community. It's just the last thing you ever want to happen."

Cameron's chair at the Mississippi Mills town hall sits empty. At the time of his death Cameron was serving his second term as councillor for Almonte Ward. (Stu Mills/CBC)

Officers responded to Cameron's mansionon Strathburn Street inAlmonte, close toHighway 29, at about 7:30 a.m. Thursday, Ontario Provincial Police said in a media release.

Anyone with informationis asked to call police at 1-888-310-1122.

Scenes from a 2006 TV movie called The House Sitter were filmed at the Cameron mansion. Police cordoned off the area on Thursday. (Stu Mills/CBC)