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October 28, 2009
Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean,
Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada,
on the death of Lieutenant Justin Boyes
OTTAWA— It was with profound sadness that my husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I learned of the death of one of our soldiers, Lieutenant Justin Boyes of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton, Alberta, as an improvised explosive device detonated while on patrol approximately 20 kilometres south-west of Kandahar City. Two of his colleagues were also injured in the strike.
This tragic news reached us following a State visit to Croatia, during which I spoke with a number of youth about our responsibility to build peace and the importance of remaining vigilant while barbarism and misery continue to affect so many people around the world.
It is to ensure that the forces of solidarity and reconstruction triumph over those of exclusion and destruction that our soldiers are working in Afghanistan, demonstrating an extraordinary level of commitment and determination. The day-to-day actions of our Forces in favour of justice, the emancipation of women and access to education, despite of the many risks they face, deserve our full recognition.
I join all Canadians in expressing our deepest sympathies to the family, loved ones and colleagues of Lieutenant Boyes. You remain in our hearts and in our minds.
Michaëlle Jean
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Media Information
Julie Rocheleau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-7280
www.gg.ca
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