Hamilton police and members of Cirillo's regiment, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, accompanied the casket.

Crowds who had waited for hours, ranging from veterans who asked people to "remember to take your hats off" to people with young children in tow, lined the route through Hamilton as the procession drove through.

They applauded and sang the national anthem, waved Canadian flags and took video with cellphones as the motorcade made its way along the main street and past Hamilton City Hall.

Cirillo, 24, the father of a young son and described as a happy-go-lucky, always smiling man who loved dogs, the outdoors and fitness, is to get a full regimental funeral on Tuesday.

He and his partner, Cpl. Branden Stevenson, were on ceremonial sentry duty at the war memorial on Wednesday when a gunman shot him in the back before storming into the Centre Block on Parliament Hill.

The gunman, identified as Michael Zehaf Bibeau, 32, was shot dead, apparently by Kevin Vickers, the sergeant-at-arms of the House of Commons. While a motive remains unclear, authorities have said Zehaf-Bibeau was trying to get a passport to travel to Syria and may have had some contact with a known Islamist extremist.

Books of condolence for Cirillo have been set up in Hamilton and Ottawa and there's been an outpouring of supportive messages and grief at his home, his regiment and online.

Visitation for the soldier is to be held at a funeral home in Hamilton -- a private visitation will take place Sunday and a public visitation on Monday -- the funeral to be held at Christ's Church Cathedral at noon on Tuesday.

In a statement read by a member of Cirillo's regiment, his family welcomed the support from across the country, and gave thanks to those who came to his aid after he was shot.

"There are no words to express the sadness that has fallen upon us all," the statement said. "We take comfort in knowing Nathan has done our country proud.

"The support of the nation at this devastating time provides a measure of comfort and helps make this almost bearable."

The family also talked about Cirillo's love of the army.

"He had a strong and unwavering devotion to duty. He understood what it meant to sustain freedom. He was fearless. Nathan would have done his duty even if he knew this tragedy was coming."

The killing was the second of a soldier this week.

On Monday, Warrant Officer Patrice Vincent, 53, was fatally injured when a man identified as Martin Rouleau used his vehicle to run him and a colleague down in a parking lot of a federal building south of Montreal.

Rouleau, 25, fled the scene but was later shot dead after a pursuit in which his car rolled over. Friends said he had become increasingly radicalized.

A fundraising campaign for the families of both soldiers had almost reached its goal of $200,000 — including $100,000 from the country's five big banks — as of Friday afternoon. The Halifax Chronicle Herald was also selling a well received cartoon related to Cirillo's killing, with proceeds going to charity.