Minister Cannon Attends Inauguration of Afghan President Karzai

The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Foreign Affairs, today issued the following statement on the inauguration of Hamid Karzai as President of Afghanistan:

“Today is an important day for the democratic development of Afghanistan, as President Karzai sets out on another leg of Afghanistan’s historic journey to freedom, democracy and opportunity." Read the statement.

Rebuilding Afghanistan, A Joint Canada-Netherlands Afghanistan Photo Exhibit

The Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT) in cooperation with the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, recently unveiled a captivating photo exhibit dedicated to Rebuilding Afghanistan. Read about the exhibit.

What's New

New Commander for Joint Task Force Afghanistan

Command of Joint Task Force Afghanistan was transferred from Brigadier-General (BGen) Jonathan Vance to BGen Daniel Ménard during a ceremony held November 19 at Kandahar Airfield. Read more on the change of command.

Canadian Ambassador Presents Order of Canada pin to Dr. Sima Samar

Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, H.E. William Crosbie, Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission Chairperson Dr. Sima Samar and Greta Bossenmaier, Deputy Minister for the Privy Council Office. Canada’s Ambassador to Afghanistan, presented to Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission Chairperson Dr. Sima Samar a lapel insignia pin commemorating her recent appointment to the Order of Canada. Read the full story.

Afghan woman's new independence: A success story from the Afghanistan Challenge

Sarvenaz Hashemy is the sole support for her mother and younger sister. "Three decades of war destroyed life for Afghans in this village," she says. "Since the Taliban, it has been a life of hardship because they burned the farmers' lands and destroyed their crops." They were left homeless when the Taliban went through the village burning houses. Read more about Sarvenaz Hashemy.

Remembrance Day Commemorated in Kabul

The Canadian Embassy in Afghanistan commemorated Remembrance Day on Wednesday November 11, paying tribute to Canada’s veterans and in particular those who have lost their lives serving the cause of peace and reconstruction in Afghanistan. Read more about this event.

Remembrance Day: November 11 Kandahar Air Field (KAF)

BGen J.H.Vance, former Commander Joint Task Force Afghanistan, along with CWO A.H. Stapleford, Regimental Sergeant Major, lay a wreath at the Canadian Cenotaph, Kandahar Air Field during remembrance day ceremonies on 11 November, 2009. Photo by Sgt Halina Folfas, Task Force Kandahar Imagery section.

Afghan Mentor: Captain Rhys Henderson

"Fighting a counterinsurgency with a recently created army in a developing nation is no easy task. There is certainly a large gap from where we want the Afghan National Army to be, and where they are. The recently increased resources dedicated to Afghanistan have certainly helped but one major effect of three decades of war has been a setback in education and literacy, factors that translate directly into the capacity for training and education of a 21st century military."
- Captain Rhys Henderson.
Read more on this story from the field.

CIVPOL Diary: Canadian Police Commander’s Commentary

"I have been in Afghanistan as Canadian Police Commander for nearly six months, almost half of my term. I am very proud of serving Canadian police, both civilian and military. What we are accomplishing in the country is difficult and challenging, but all in the interest of making the Afghan National Police better able to serve their communities."
- A/Comm Graham Muir, Canadian Police Commander in Afghanistan. Read his CIVPOL diary.

Featured Video: Remembrance Day Ceremony at Camp Nathan Smith, home of the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team

Each year, Remembrance Day is celebrated to honour our war veterans. This video was recorded on November 11, 2009, at the Remembrance Day Services with Constable Andrew Johnstone at Camp Nathan Smith, Kandahar Province, where Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) is based. Watch the video.

Ministers Visit on Remembrance Day Ceremony in Kandahar

The Honourable Peter Mackay, Minister of National Defence, and the Honourable Tony Clement, Minister of Industry, lay a wreath at a Remembrance Day Ceremony in Kandahar on November 11, 2009.

Representative of Canada in Kandahar Visits Ottawa, Montreal and Paris

The Representative of Canada in Kandahar (RoCK), Ben Rowswell returned to Canada this past month and participated in various outreach activities in Ottawa and Montreal. Read more on the visit.

In keeping with Canada’s priorities on Afghanistan, the Afghanistan Challenge is an initiative that matches the funds raised by Canadian organizations, who are directly involved in the development effort in Afghanistan. By making small-scale donations over the Internet, which are matched dollar-for-dollar by their Government, Canadians are able to contribute to the development project of their choice, led and facilitated by Canadian partners.

How can I help Afghan women become independent and support their families?
Fund a scholarship for Afghan women

How can I help Afghans earn a living? Finance a micro-loan

How can I help build a school?
Support children's education

Canada's chargé d’affaires at the AIESEC Young Leaders Conference

Minister Oda celebrates Canadian Youth in Action

On October 7, 2009, the Honourable Beverley J. Oda, Minister of International Cooperation, attended a celebration of “Canadian Youth in Action: Meeting Millennium Challenges.” Learn more about the celebration.

Captain Trevor Greene Participates in Remembrance Day Ceremony

Sharing Memories at the Afghanistan360°

Residents of St. Albert, Alberta, attended a presentation on Canada's work in Afghanistan this past Remembrance Day. Using the Afghanistan360 exhibit as a backdrop, CIDA senior project officer Violette Cassis and Maj. David Muralt of DND spoke about their experiences working and living in Afghanistan, using Canada's priorities and projects as a foundation to their stories. Read more on this event.

Regional Command (South) Countries Meet in Ottawa

AfCam

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