May 4, 2010 

Message from Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, on the death of Petty Officer Second Class Craig Blake

OTTAWA—My husband, Jean-Daniel Lafond, and I have just received the tragic news of the death of a Canadian Forces member in Afghanistan. Petty Officer Second Class Craig Blake a member of Fleet Diving Unit (Atlantic), based in Shearwater, Nova Scotia, was killed by an improvised explosive device during an operation 25 kilometres outside of Kandahar.

Petty Officer Second Class Blake, like all of his comrades deployed to Afghanistan, demonstrated extraordinary commitment in providing assistance to the Afghan people and helping in the reconstruction of this devastated country. He offered the best of himself and we salute his tremendous courage, his generous spirit and his commitment to excellence in the line of duty.

Our thoughts are with his mourning parents, his fellow sailors and his friends. We can only imagine their great suffering and grief. On behalf of all Canadians, we offer them our sincerest condolences. We mourn the loss of a fellow Canadian whom we held in the highest esteem. We shall not forget him.

Michaëlle Jean

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Media Information:
Marie-Ève Létourneau
Rideau Hall Press Office
613-998-0287
meletourneau@gg.ca
www.gg.ca