Ottawa police say safety measures always in place before big events in the nation's capital

Police authorities across Canada are assessing risk following the horrific New Orleans attack and Germany Christmas market incident. While the international investigations continue, the Ottawa Police Service says there no increased risk in Canada following the two separate attacks.

Investigators have numerous measures in place to help keep crowds safe for big events, such as Canada Day, where safety is always paramount.

"When tragedies like this do occur, there's a very specific after-action report that is completed and shared with the law enforcement community internationally, so that we can learn and leverage to learn from best practices in order to prepare and avoid, as much as possible, these tragedies," said Francois D'Aoust, Ottawa Police Service superintendent.

D'Aoust says there is significant planning every year before thousands gather for events like Canada Day or for protests on Parliament Hill.

"We meet several times together to discuss potential threats, whether terrorism or a terrorist threat of a lone attacker," said D'Aoust. "If there's any concerns for a crowd search or crowd crush issues, those are all considered within the planning process."

There are also safety measures in place at all times, including bollards preventing vehicle access on city property.

"You just can't drive, you have to walk through them," said Chris Lewis, CTV Public Safety Analyst and former OPP commissioner. "There's some limitation on pedestrians, but very little and the big thing is the expense."

Officials also use police vehicles and dump trucks to block off roads at major events.

"You'll see the bollards in and around TD Place as well as adding officers in and around the perimeter, to have a proactive presence, to deter any potential threats," said D'Aoust.

As officials in the U.S. continue to investigate the tragedy in New Orleans, Lewis says it's important to continue to live normally.

"Terrorism is really meant to scare people and to change the way they live, and we can't let that happen," said Lewis. "If after every single bad thing that happens out there, we absolutely change the world, we're not going to live the life we want to and so we have to be comfortable that authorities have this in control and let us live our lives."