February 14, 2005 OTTAWA -- The first flight of about 80 DART personnel returning from Sri Lanka is expected to arrive at 8 Wing Trenton tonight at 10:15 p.m. On arrival, some personnel will be available for interviews with members of the media. Most personnel on this flight are from 2 Canadian Mechanized Brigade Group (2CMBG), CFB Petawawa, with some elements from the Canadian Forces Joint Headquarters (CFJHQ) at CFB Kingston. Bill Graham, Minister of National Defence and General Rick Hillier, Chief of the Defence Staff, will be on hand to greet the troops and address the media. Colonel Pat Stogran, Commander of the Canadian Forces Joint Operations Group, and Colonel André Deschamps, Commander 8 Wing/CFB Trenton, will also be in attendance. Details on the arrival of the remainder of DART personnel will be announced at a later date. Lieutenant-Colonel Mike Voith, DART Commanding Officer, Major Julia Atherley-Blight, Deputy Commanding Officer, will be on this second and last flight. - 30 - NOTE TO EDITORS: Captain Nicole Meszaros, 8 Wing Public Affairs Officer, is the point of contact at 8 Wing for this media opportunity and she can be reached by phone at (613) 965-3675, or by cell at (613) 391-8805. Broadcast quality b-roll is available upon request. Photos of Operation STRUCTURE can be found at www.forces.gc.ca or by calling the Media Liaison Office at (613) 996-2353/2354.
