Canada Remembers Times 2024
Veterans' Week Special Edition

5-11 November 2024 - Page 1

Canada's mission in Afghanistan

More than 40,000 Canadian Armed Forces members served in Afghanistan between 2001 and 2014. It was the largest deployment of Canadian troops since the Second World War.

The best known part of our country’s mission in Afghanistan was also the most dangerous. Canadians deployed to the volatile Kandahar Province in 2005. Taliban forces were very active there. Canadians faced a risk of attack every time they left their military camps to go outside the wire. Our troops carried out many combat operations and patrols in Kandahar until 2011.

Many Veterans also proudly remember other kinds of Canadian contributions in Afghanistan. Humanitarian efforts, infrastructure development and nation-building projects were important, too.

This included building roads, a major dam and training the Afghan police and military. They also helped girls access schooling, something the Taliban had not allowed.

Serving in Afghanistan was very dangerous. Sadly, 158 Canadian Armed Forces members died. Many more returned home with injuries. March 2024 marked the 10^th anniversary of the end of Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. We recognize the brave Canadians who served there. We also remember those who died defending peace and freedom.

The Royal Canadian Air Force takes off

Our country has a long and proud tradition of military service in the air. The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) was formed on April 1, 1924, and has made many contributions over the years.

More than 20,000 Canadians served with British air forces during the First World War. They were some of the best fighter pilots on Europe’s Western Front. Many Canadian aviators became aces by shooting down five or more enemy planes.

Building on this success, the RCAF was created 100 years ago. It grew slowly at first but expanded greatly during the Second World War. More than 250,000 Canadian aviators served at home and around the world in that conflict. Their efforts came at a high cost. More than 17,000 of our airmen and airwomen lost their lives.

Canadian pilots also served in the Korean War. They transported troops and supplies to East Asia and flew fighter jets. During the Cold War, our warplanes served with North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) forces at sea and in Western Europe. Canada continues to partner with the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) to protect our continent’s skies today.

Canadian service in Africa

In 2024, we are highlighting Canada’s military efforts in Africa. Thousands of Canadians have served in many missions on this huge continent over the years.

Our troops sailed overseas to take part in the South African War in the late-1800s. Canadian aviators, soldiers and sailors fought in Allied campaigns around North Africa during the Second World War.

Canadians have also served in Africa as part of many peace operations since 1960. Canadian peacekeepers tried to help societies torn apart by unrest in places like the Congo, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and Mali. Canadian Armed Forces members took part in other kinds of missions in Africa too. For example, they participated in NATO operations against Libya in 2011. Anti-piracy efforts in the dangerous waters off the African coast are also ongoing.

An old African proverb says, the eye never forgets what the heart has seen. Many of the brave Canadians who have served and sacrificed during challenging missions in Africa could say the same.

African countries where Canadians have served

Algeria
Angola
Central African Republic
Congo
Egypt
Eritrea
Ethiopia
Ivory Coast
Liberia
Libya
Mali
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nigeria
Rwanda
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Somalia
South Africa
South Sudan
Sudan
Tunisia
Uganda
Western Sahara

D-Day: 80 years later

The coast of France is serene and beautiful today. But 80 years ago, the Canadian soldiers who stormed Juno Beach on D-Day saw a very different scene.

By mid-1944, Germany had occupied much of Western Europe for four years during the Second World War. They heavily fortified the continent to defend the conquered territory. Mines, beach obstacles, barbed wire, heavy artillery, machine guns and troops guarded the coast. Breaching these defences was an enormous challenge and took years of careful preparation. On June 6, 1944 (codenamed D-Day), the time for the Allied assault finally came. Canadian, British and American forces landed in the face of heavy enemy fire along an 80-kilometre stretch of shoreline in northwest France. A massive naval fleet and thousands of warplanes supported them.

About 14,000 Canadian soldiers went ashore at Juno Beach that day. Approximately 500 Canadian paratroopers also landed further inland. 359 of our soldiers died. It was only the beginning of the tough Battle of Normandy, but the Allies had finally cracked the walls of Fortress Europe.

John Hall of Saskatchewan remembered what happened to his buddy on D-Day.

“We were getting on the ship and I was here and he was away down farther, but I saw him and I waved at him… he waved back and said, ‘Goodbye John,’ and he’s the first guy I saw dead on the beach.”

Invictus Games 2025

The Invictus Games were first held in London, England, in 2014. These games are open to Veterans and still-serving military members from around the world. One of the main goals of the games is to motivate service members who suffered injuries to body and mind. Pushing their limits through physical challenges can be an important part of their personal wellness journey. Canada will host the first-ever winter hybrid Invictus Games in February 2025. The Vancouver-Whistler area is preparing to welcome more than 500 competitors from over 20 countries. The events will be held on the traditional territories of four First Nations (Lílwat, Musqueam, Squamish and Tsleil-Waututh). By working hand in hand with all partners, the games will offer the participants a remarkable experience, while embracing the region’s Indigenous traditions.

Date modified:: 2024-08-07

Canada Remembers Times 2024 Veterans' Week Special Edition