Focus Afghanistan June 2010

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Focus Afghanistan

Voices

"This quarter, Canada completed and opened a new border facility at Spin Boldak to improve border management along the shared Afghanistan-Pakistan border. We also met our target for correctional officer training, having trained 100 percent of officers at current staffing levels."

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon
Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan

In Focus Afghanistan

Government of Canada Tables its Eighth Quarterly Report on Afghanistan

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the Cabinet Committee on Afghanistan, released the Government of Canada’s eighth quarterly report on Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan. The report covers the period from January 1st to March 31st, 2010. Read the News Release and the Report.

Canada appoints new Canadian Police Commander in Afghanistan

At a ceremony held at Camp Nathan Smith, Royal Canadian Mounted Police Assistant Commissioner David Critchley officially assumed the role of the new Commander of the Canadian Civilian Police Mission in Afghanistan, succeeding Assistant Commissioner Graham Muir who has held the position since June 2009. Read the story.

Canada's Ambassador Meets Recipients of CARE Projects to Support Widows

Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, William Crosbie, and Deputy Head of Aid, Christopher Johnson, on June 10th met with recipients of Canadian-funded CARE International programs aimed at supporting widows through vocational training, food aid, advocacy, income generation projects and emergency response. Read the story.

Kandahar Through Afghan Eyes

Kandahar Through Afghan Eyes 2010 portrays the journey of 15 students from Kandahar province, Afghanistan, who were taught to take photographs, through which they tell a story about everyday life in Kandahar province. Read more on this story and view the poster series.

What's New

New Canadian battle group ready for work in Task Force Kandahar

In a ceremonial transfer of command authority on May 5th, the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry (1 PPCLI) Battle Group from Edmonton, Alta., commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Jerry Walsh, handed over its responsibilities in Task Force Kandahar to the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment (1 RCR) Battle Group from Petawawa, Ont., commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Conrad Mialkowski. Read about the transfer of command.

Bringing stability to the front lines

Embedded with the Canadian Forces is not the typical place you would expect to find a public servant, but a District Operation Coordination Centre in the Panjwayi district of Kandahar province is home to Stephanie Duhaime. A native of Sudbury, Ontario, Duhaime is one of Canada’s two stabilization officers helping to rebuild areas within Kandahar province – the focus for Canada’s engagement in Afghanistan. Read more on this story.

June 2010

Features

Video: Kandahar Through Afghan Eyes

In this podcast, we look at the Kandahar Through Afghan Eyes 2010 exhibit; the result of an inspiring project that brings us a different perspective on the realities of life in Kandahar province through the eyes of some of its youth. Watch the video.

Photo Gallery - Dahla Dam

View a selection of photos in our Flickr gallery.

Inauguration of the new Border Police Faculty in Kabul

Afghanistan's Deputy Interior Minister General Haidar Basir, Germany's Ambassador to Afghanistan Werner H. Lauk, and Canada's Chargé d'Affaires Cindy Termorshuizen inaugurated the new Border Police Faculty at the National Police Academy in Kabul. Read more on the opening.

Canadian Voices in Afghanistan: Leslie Knott, Freelance Photographer

"I first decided to come to Afghanistan in 2004 when I was hired by Institute for Media Policy and Civil Society (IMPACS), a Canadian NGO that was building radio stations managed by women. I was first posted to Maimana in Faryab province, where I worked with a group of seven Afghan women who wanted to be journalists." Read more on her story.

Photo Gallery - Through Afghan Eyes

View a selection of photos in our Flickr gallery.

In Afghanistan: Special Parliamentary Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan

A delegation of Members of Parliament representing the Special Parliamentary Committee on the Canadian Mission in Afghanistan travelled to Kandahar and Kabul from May 30 to June 3. Members of Parliament spent their five day visit meeting with soldiers, Canadian civilians, representatives from the international community working in Afghanistan and most importantly Afghans. Read about the visit.

Canadian Voices in Afghanistan: Fouz Abdel Hadi, Canadian Technical Advisor to the Ministry of Justice

"The most enjoyable aspect of my work is when I show drafters and other stakeholders how legislation can change people’s behaviour from extreme discrimination against women to full protection of the principle of equality." Read more on her story.

Afghanistan Outreach at the CANSEC exhibition in Ottawa

DFAIT and CIDA Afghanistan Task Force officers participated at the CANSEC trade show which took place at Lansdowne Park in Ottawa on June 2nd and 3rd. Over 200 exhibitors attended this event including representation from other Government departments. Read more on the event.

The Afghanistan360° multimedia exhibit is currently touring the country and will be on display at a variety of public events. Showcasing Canada's six priorities and three signature projects through a myriad of visuals, short videos and narrative, its purpose is to inform Canadians about Canada’s role in Afghanistan. Check for dates and locations near you.

Did you know?

Cedar patayi screen from Turquoise Mountain Foundation unveiled at Lester B. Pearson

On June 4th, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Canada Jawed Ludin, Canada's Deputy Minister of International Trade Louis Lévesque and Canada's Associate Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Gérald Cossette, jointly unveiled a commemorative Cedar patayi screen to mark the efforts of all Canadian civilians who have contributed to progress in our engagement in Afghanistan. Read about the unveiling.

Multimedia

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