November
Afghan Torture Inquiry
Amid concerns over the treatment of Canadian detainees being transferred to Afghan jails, a parliamentary committee of MPs was created to investigate whether the allegations of torture were true. Former diplomat Richard Colvin testified that he spent the most of 06-07 warning his superiors that the detainees were being tortured. While General Rick Hillier has denied ever getting any notice of possible torture.
Richard Colvin
General Rick Hillier
Sapper Steven Marshall
October 30
The Fallen
Sapper Steven Marshall of the 1 Combat Engineer Regiment was killed on October 30, 2009 by an IED south-est of Kandahar City, Afghanistan.
Lieutenant Justin Boyes
October 28
The Fallen
Lieutenant Justin Boyes of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was killed on October 28, 2009 when he and his foot patrol were struck by and IED. Boyes was only 10 days into his second tour in Afghanistan.
October 8
A Soldier First
Former Chief of the Defence staff of the Canadian Forces Rick Hillier released his book 'A Soldier First: Bullets, Bureaucrats and the Politics of War.' The book speaks of his views on the military and politics as well as what life was like during his 35-year career with the Canadian Forces.
Matthew Wilcox
September 30
Canadian soldier found guilty
Canadian soldier Matthew Wilcox was found guilty of killing his friend Cpl. Kevin Megeny while in Afghanistan during a game of quick draw in March 2007. Wilcox was sent to four years in prison and was kicked out of the Canadian Forces.
Corporal Jonathan Couturier
September 17
The Fallen
Corporal Jonathan Couturier was killed on September 17, 2009 by and IED in Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.
Private Patrick Lormand
September 13
The Fallen
Private Patrick Lormand of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment was killed on September 13, 2009 by an IED in Panjwayi District, Afghanistan.
September 6
The Fallen
Maj. Yannick Pepin is and Cpl. Jean-Francois Drouin were killed on Sunday September 6, 2009, when a roadside bomb smashed their vehicle in Afghanistan.
Maj. Yannick Pepin
Cpl. Jean-Francois Drouin
August 1
The Fallen
Sapper Matthieu Allard and Corporal Christian Bobbitt of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment in Val d'Or, Quebec were killed by an IED in the Zhari District, Afghanistan.
Sapper Matthieu Allard
Corporal Christian Bobbitt
Pte. Sebastien Courcy
July 16
The Fallen
Pte. Sebastien Courcy of the 2nd Battalion of the Royal 22e Regimentwas killed in combat in Afghanistan on July 16th, 2009.
July 6
The Fallen
Master Corporal Patrice Audet of 430e Escadron tactique d’hélicoptères and Cpl. Martin Joanette of 3e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment were killed on July 6th in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan.
Master Cpl. Patrice Audet
Cpl. Martin Joanette
Master-Cpl. Charles-Philippe Michaud.
July 4
The Fallen
Master-Corporal Charles-Philippe Michaud of the 2nd Batallion, Royal 22e Régiment was injured in June when an IED detonated near his dismounted patrol. Michaud succumbed to his injuries on July 4, 2009.
Cpl. Nicholas Bulger
July 3
The Fallen
Cpl. Nicholas Bulger of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry was killed when his vehicle struck an improvised explosive device. Five others were injured.
Cpl. Martin Dube
June 14
The Fallen
Canadian Cpl. Martin Dube, 35, is shown in a handout photo. Dube, a combat engineer, was killed in Afghanistan, Sunday, June 14, 2009 when an improvised explosive device he was attempting to defuse exploded.
Private Alexandre (Pelo) Peloquin
June 8
The Fallen
Private Alexandre (Pelo) Peloquin of the 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Regiment Battle Group was killed by an IED while on foot patrol 15km southwest of Kandahar City.
Major Michelle Mendes
April 23
The Fallen
Major Michelle Mendes, based in Ottawa, was found dead in her room at the Kandahar Airfield on April 23. Mendes, 30, is the third female soldier to die during the Afghan mission.
Trooper Karine Blais
April 14
The Fallen
Trooper Karine Blais, 21, dies and four other soldiers are wounded April 14 when their armoured personnel carrier rolls over an improvised explosive device in the Shah Wali Khot district, north of Kandahar.
March 27
U.S. increases commitment to Afghanistan
In conjunction with an increase in the military force in Afghanistan, President Obama sets benchmarks for progress in fighting al Qaeda and the Taliban.
March 20
The Fallen
Master Corporal Scott Vernelli and Corporal Tyler Crooks are killed when a roadside bomb detonates while on an overnight mission in Zhari. Five other Canadian soldiers are injured.
Master Corporal Scott Vernelli
Corporal Tyler Crooks
March 20
The Fallen
Trooper Jack Bouthillier and Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes are killed when a roadside bomb detonates under their vehicle while taking part in an operation. Three other Canadian soldiers are wounded in the blast.
Trooper Jack Bouthillier
Trooper Corey Joseph Hayes
Trooper Marc Diab
March 8
The Fallen
Trooper Marc Diab is killed in a roadside bomb attack North of Kandahar. Four others are injured in the incident.
March 3
The Fallen
Corporal Kenneth Chad O'Quinn, Corporal Dany Olivier Fortin and Warrant Officer Dennis Raymond Brown are killed as a result of an IED attack on their armoured vehicle.
Corporal Dany Fortin
Corporal Kenneth O’Quinn
Warrant Officer Denis Brown
February 19
No extension to Afghan mission
President Barack Obama visits Ottawa. Despite his plans to increase the number of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, Stephen Harper reiterates that Canada will not be extending its commitment.
Barack Obama
February 17
World Events
President Barack Obama announces that he will send 17,000 American soldiers to Afghanistan. The additional troops will increase the number of American soldiers in the country by 50 per cent.
Sapper Sean Greenfield
January 31
The Fallen
Sapper Sean David Greenfield is killed when his armoured vehicle hits a roadside bomb in the volatile Zhari district west of Kandahar city.
January 22
Obama orders Guantanamo Bay closed
Just two days in office, President Barack Obama signs an order to close the Guantanamo Bay detention which holds suspected terrorists. It is scheduled to shut down next year.
January 20
Inauguration of Barack Obama
Barack Obama's inauguration is held. He is the first African American President of the United States. In his inauguration speech, he reaches out to Muslim countries but also declares that America's enemies will be defeated.
Trooper Brian Richard Good
January 7
The Fallen
Trooper Brian Richard Good dies when a bomb detonates near his armoured vehicle in the district of Shah Wali Kowt.
