KANDAHAR, October 15, 2005 -- Defence Minister Bill Graham and General
Rick Hillier, the Chief of the Defence Staff, presided over a ceremony
October 13, 2005, to bestow the name "Camp Nathan Smith" on the compound that
houses the Canadian Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT).
Private Nathan Smith of the 3rd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian
Light Infantry (3 PPCLI), died on April 17, 2002, at the military training
area known as Tarnak Farm, which lies on the outskirts of Kandahar City. Pte
Smith was the youngest and most junior victim of the friendly fire accident
that also claimed the lives of Sergeant Marc Leger, Corporal Ainsworth Dyer
and Private Richard Green.
"We should never forget those who paid the ultimate price to serve our
country" said Colonel Steve Bowes, the PRT commanding officer. "Nathan is an
example and an inspiration to all the young soldiers of this PRT, and those
who will come after them to continue Canada's commitment and help the Afghan
people achieve their goals and desires."
Pte Nathan Smith was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on June 28, 1975, and
grew up in Porter's Lake, Nova Scotia. He graduated from Seneca College with
honours in underwater skills in 1997, and moved to Victoria, British Columbia,
where he joined The Canadian Scottish Regiment (Princess Mary's) in March
1998. He completed Reserve Basic Training at the Land Force Western Area
Training Centre in Wainwright, Alberta, during the summer of 1998, and
transferred to the Regular Force on September 24, 1998.
In May 1999, after completing Battle School, Pte Smith was posted as a
rifleman to 3 PPCLI in the garrison at Edmonton, Alberta. In 2000, he deployed
with the battalion to Bosnia-Herzegovina on Operation PALLADIUM, and in 2001
he completed the Basic Parachutist Course and was transferred to Parachute
Company, 3 PPCLI. In February 2002, he deployed with the 3 PPCLI Battle Group
to Kandahar on Operation APOLLO.
Most of the 250 soldiers currently serving with the PRT also belong to
3 PPCLI.
The PRT brings together Canadian military personnel, civilian police,
diplomats and aid workers in an integrated effort to reinforce the authority
of the Afghan government in and around Kandahar, and to help stabilize the
region. To achieve these goals, the PRT conducts security patrols, contributes
labour and resources to local reconstruction efforts, supports local
governance institutions, and facilitates reforms in the security sector.
Task Force Afghanistan comprises about 1,000 Canadian Forces members,
including troops in Kabul deployed under Operation ATHENA, and the military
component of the PRT in Kandahar, deployed under Operation ARCHER. About
250 CF members are deployed in the Persian (Arabian) Gulf region to support
Canadian operations in Afghanistan.
The Canadian contingent in Kabul is being reduced to a group of about 85
soldiers who will continue to serve with various Kabul-based military and
civilian organizations. The rest - about 900 soldiers - are moving to
Kandahar, and the relocation is expected to be complete by early December. The
aim of this reorganization is to increase the effectiveness and impact of CF
assets in the region. The task force in Kandahar will grow to about 2,000
strong by February 2006.
NOTE TO EDITORS:
An image of the event is available at the Combat Camera website at:
http://www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca/
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For further information: (613) 996-2353/54, After hours: (613) 792-2973
World Wide Web: http://www.forces.gc.ca
