Inuksuk Memorial
The inuksuk memorial was built by members of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) Battle Group, specifically members of "A" Company, 3 PPCLI, the battalion's pioneers and military engineers, in response to the four Canadian fatalities suffered at Tarnak Farm on April 17, 2002. The inuksuk and the surrounding memorial construction were dedicated on July 16, 2002, in the waning days of the initial Canadian presence at the Kandahar military base.
Construction
The inuksuk was constructed out of eight rock slabs gathered from the area around the airport and a nearby village. It was initially located inside the perimeter of the Kandahar Airfield's boardwalk area and was oriented so that it pointed in the direction of Edmonton, the home station of 3 PPCLI.
Rededication
Inuksuk at the Kandahar airfield, photo 2008.
The inuksuk memorial was rededicated in 2008 and the platform surrounding the inuksuk was updated to bare plaques on all four sides dedicated to the memory of Canadian, American and other coalition soldiers killed in the fighting in Afghanistan.
Preservation
Inuksuk at the Embassy of Canada in Afghanistan, photo 2019.
In 2019, the inuksuk memorial was moved from the Kandahar airfield to the Embassy of Canada in Afghanistan after NATO control of the Kandahar airfield ended. The embassy maintains stewardship of the memorial and three new plaques were added to commemorate the fallen Afghanistan National Defense and Security Forces.
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