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Our Fallen Airman and Fallen Soldier Return HomeLFCA MA 09-13 - July 8, 2009OTTAWA – Our fallen airman, Master Corporal Pat Audet from 430 Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères, based at Canadians Forces Base Valcartier and our fallen soldier, Corporal Martin Joannette from the 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, near Quebec City, return home to Canada tomorrow. Where: 8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario. When: Thursday, July 9, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. What: At the request of the families, media will be permitted on the tarmac. Present to pay their respects will be the Minister...

Helicopter Crash - Two Canadian and one ISAF soldier have died and three others injuredCEFCOM NR–09.019 - July 7, 2009OTTAWA– Two Canadian air crew members and one ISAF soldier were killed when a Canadian CH-146 Griffon helicopter crashed during take-off. The incident occurred at a Forward Operating Base in Tarnak Va Jaldak, Zabul Province, northeast of Kandahar City at around 1:50 p.m., Kandahar time, on 6 July 2009. Killed in action were MCpl Pat Audet from 430e Escadron tactique d'hélicoptères based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier and Cpl Martin Joannette from the 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment based at Canadian...

Canadian soldier dies in Quebec hospital from injuries sustained in AfghanistanCLS NR–09.001 - July 5, 2009OTTAWA– A Canadian soldier who recently sustained serious injuries in Afghanistan passed away in a Quebec hospital yesterday. The deceased is Master-Corporal Charles-Philippe Michaud from the 2e Batallion, Royal 22e Régiment based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, near Quebec City. At approximately 9:15 a.m. Kandahar time on June 23, 2009, Master-Corporal Michaud was seriously injured when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near his dismounted patrol in Panjwayi District, southwest of Kandahar City. Master-Corporal Michaud was evacuated by helicopter to the coalition medical facility at...

One Canadian soldier killed in an explosive device strikeCEFCOM NR–09.015 - June 14, 2009OTTAWA - A Canadian soldier was killed as a result of an explosion of an improvised explosive device (IED). The incident occurred in the vicinity of Panjwayi District, approximately 20 km southwest of Kandahar City at around 12:30 p.m., Kandahar time, June 14, 2009. Killed in action was Corporal Martin Dubé from the 5e Régiment de genie de combat based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier near Quebec City. He was serving as a member of the Joint Task Force Headquarters. Corporal Dubé was responding to a call...

PM travels to Afghanistan Announces additional support to help 18,000 children in Kandahar 7 May 2009 KANDAHAR, AFGHANISTAN Prime Minister Stephen Harper today travelled to Afghanistan, where he visited with Canadian Forces and civilian personnel stationed in Kandahar. “From the very first day of the Afghan mission the men and women of the Canadian Forces and civilian officials, have served courageously and selflessly to help the people of Afghanistan build a better future,” said the Prime Minister. “Over the course of this mission our men and women in Afghanistan have made incredible sacrifices to defend our values and our interests....

Our fallen soldier returns home Our fallen soldier returns homeLFCA MA 09-09 - April 25, 2009OTTAWA – Our fallen soldier, Major Michelle Mendes, based in Ottawa, Ontario, will return home to Canada on Sunday, April 26, 2009. Where: 8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario. When: Sunday, April 26, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. What: At the wishes of the family, media will not be permitted on the tarmac. Present to pay their respects will be The Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay, Chief of the Defence Staff, General Walt Natynczyk, and other dignitaries. Major Mendes was found...

Army News videos: Historian explains battle of Passchendaele, Part 1Historian explains battle of Passchendaele, Part 2Thursday, April 23, 2009 Ottawa, ON – Norman Leach discusses the bravery and strategy of WWI Canadian soldiers.

One Canadian Soldier Dies in AfghanistanCEFCOM NR–09.011 - April 24, 2009OTTAWA – At approximately 4:00 p.m. Kandahar time, 23 April 2009, a Canadian Forces member was found dead in her accommodation room, at Kandahar Airfield. Deceased is Major Michelle Mendes, based in Ottawa, Ontario. An investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this incident. No further details are available at this time, although enemy action has been ruled out. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of our lost comrade. Our primary focus at this time is to provide the best possible support to the family of our...

Our Fallen Soldier Returns HomeLFCA MA 09-07 - April 15, 2009OTTAWA – Our fallen soldier, Trooper Karine Blais, from 12e Régiment Blindé du Canada based at Canadian Forces Base Valcartier, Quebec, will return home to Canada on Thursday, April 16, 2009. Where: 8 Wing, Canadian Forces Base Trenton, Ontario. When: Thursday, April 16, 2009 at 2:00 p.m. What: At the wishes of the family, media will not be permitted on the tarmac. Present to pay their respects will be Her Excellency The Governor General of Canada, The Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Minister of National Defence, The Honourable Peter Gordon MacKay,...

Canadian warship thwarts pirates again For the second time in a week, a Canadian warship has helped fend off a potential attack from pirates off the coast of Somalia. The HMCS Winnipeg — which is taking part in the NATO-led counter-piracy mission known as Operation Allied Protector — and a Spanish ship responded Friday night after a civilian vessel sent out a distress call following an apparent pirate attack in the Gulf of Aden.

MA'SUM GHAR - Canadian soldiers on the front lines in Afghanistan have welcomed U.S. President Barack Obama's announcement that more American reinforcements will be on the way. At the Ma'sum Ghar military base - an outpost in western Kandahar where Canadian soldiers are managing development projects in an area with a heavy Taliban presence - news about an additional 21,000 U.S. troops was gladly received. Obama's announcement on Friday of the dispatch of 4,000 new troops came on the heels of an earlier planned deployment of 17,000 U.S. soldiers to Afghanistan. "We need more troops," Master Seaman Lee Bickerstaffe of...

OTTAWA -- As Canadians mourn the loss of four more fallen soldiers in Afghanistan, a videotaped segment of an American TV talk show where panelists mock Canadian soldiers as slackers is making the rounds on the Internet. The five-minute segment, which aired recently on Fox News late-night program Red Eye with Greg Gutfeld and later posted on YouTube.com, features American panelists suggesting Canadian soldiers need time off for "manicures and pedicures." The item aired after Gen. Andrew Leslie, the Canadian Forces Chief of Land Staff, told a Senate committee the military would need a one-year break from operations after the...

KANDAHAR — Four Canadian soldiers are dead and at least eight others injured in two separate bombings outside of Kandahar city. Master Corporal Scott Vernelli and Corporal Tyler Crooks died in a blast that occurred during a morning foot patrol in the restive Zhari district, west of Kandahar. Later, Trooper Jack Bouthillier and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes were killed when a roadside bomb exploded in the Shah Wali Kot district, a region northwest of the city that's seeing an increase in Taliban activity. Brigadier-General Jonathan Vance, the commander of Canadian troops in Afghanistan, is urging Canadians not to consider the...

The announcement Air Canada passengers all too frequently hear at the beginning of their domestic flights is solemn and respectful. It tells them their flight is also carrying a deceased member of the Forces home to his or her family. But the respect afforded fallen personnel begins long before passengers board. At Toronto Pearson International Airport, there are only two things that can bring an entire operating ramp to a halt: lightning, and a fallen member of the CF being carried home. The Air Canada Cargo team at Toronto Pearson has long had a respectful process in place for the...

KANDAHAR -- President Hamid Karzai declared Saturday that Afghanistan's presidential election should be held within the next two months, in keeping with the country's constitution. Afghanistan's independent election commission earlier had pushed the vote back to Aug. 20 because of security and logistical concerns. In recent weeks, however, Karzai was under increasing pressure from opponents who accused him of using the delay to illegally extend his term, which ends May 21. Saturday's move puts the question of the vote's constitutionality squarely at the feet of the commission, but risks putting Karzai further at odds with his western allies who supported...

News ReleaseTwo Canadian soldiers killed and four injured in AfghanistanCEFCOM NR–08.046 - December 28, 2008OTTAWA– Two Canadian soldiers, as well as one member of the Afghan National Police and one Afghan interpreter were killed on December 27, 2008, when an explosive device detonated in their vicinity in the Panjwayi District. Four other Canadian soldiers and one Afghan interpreter were injured in the incident, which occurred at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time, approximately 25 kilometres west of Kandahar City. The soldiers were conducting security operations in the area when the explosion occurred. Killed in action was Warrant Officer Gaétan Roberge, from...

Canadian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan CEFCOM NR–08.045 - December 27, 2008 OTTAWA – One Canadian soldier was killed and three others were injured when their armoured vehicle was struck by an explosion in Zharey District about 12:45 p.m. Kandahar time, December 26, 2008. The fallen soldier is Private Michael Freeman of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment based at CFB Petawawa. All members of Task Force Kandahar are thinking of the family and friends of our fallen comrade during this time of sorrow. The dedication and sacrifice of soldiers like Private Michael Freeman is helping to make a difference in...

News Release Canadian Soldier Killed in Afghanistan CEFCOM NR–08.044 - December 26, 2008 OTTAWA – One Canadian soldier was killed and three others were injured when their armoured vehicle was struck by an explosion in Zharey District about 12:45 p.m. Kandahar time, December 26, 2008. The injured soldiers were evacuated by helicopter to the Role 3 Multi-National Medical Facility at Kandahar Airfield where all the soldiers are reported to be in good condition. Next of kin have been notified. The identity of the deceased soldier is being withheld at the request of the family. -30-

PANJWAII DISTRICT, Afghanistan -- Christmas on Afghanistan's front lines was as festive as a company of tired soldiers could make it. There was turkey and trimmings, red Santa hats, as well as a Christmas tree decorated in candy canes and photos of pretty girls. There was even beer, a special treat for a bunch of guys who hadn't tasted alcohol in nearly four months. Despite the festivities, it was hard for the soldiers to forget why they're there. Just days before, the members of Mike company -- who man this forward-operating base deep in Taliban territory -- were trading fire...

C.F.B. GAGETOWN, N.B.–Just over a week before a roadside bomb ended his young life, Justin Jones was at home in Newfoundland, celebrating a trio of events with his family and eagerly awaiting his return to Afghanistan. The rookie soldier was back in Baie Verte for two weeks to mark an early Christmas, his 21st birthday and his beloved grandparents' 50th anniversary. It was a brief respite from his first tour in Afghanistan, where he had deployed in August with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, based at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick. He was expected to stay until March or...