Canadian Angels

Kandahar Journal

2007-06-26T21:22:00.000-04:00

Awesome blog from Richard Johnson in Kandahar, covering the war as a sketch artist. Amazing art.

It's official: The sponsorship form is down

2007-06-25T18:10:00.000-04:00

I hope that all Canadians will support me in this change from a one-on-one pairing organization to an organization that deals anonymously with the wounded. I know many people who have written to me will be disappointed that they won't have a soldier of their "own" to care for, but I remind you that it is just as gratifying to know that you've brought a smile to the lips of a scared, injured soldier, miles from home. We don't need to know his name.

If you are interested in knowing how you can help, please drop me an email at

canadianangels at gmail dot com

Thanks!

Help is needed in Germany!

2007-06-22T19:11:00.000-04:00

A couple of things. I got a request today for disposable razors, boxer-briefs in M, L, and XL, and solid color t-shirts. The hospital at Landstuhl, Germany is desperate for these things, as more and more injured are coming in every day, and they can't keep up. Please send items to:

21st TSC, Medical Transient Detachment
ATTN: Soldiers' Angels, MaryAnn Phillips
UNIT 23203
APO AE 09263

Please try to include cards and letters with your packages - troops from throughout the coalition love hearing that you support them.

The second thing I need to tell you is that sometime this weekend, Canadian Angels will be taking down the Sponsorship Application page. All of you have been so wonderful that I now have over 2000 Angels, and very few individual soldiers to match them with. I'm hoping instead to work full time with MaryAnn in supplying care packages to anonymous soldiers at the hospital, and I hope you will all be willing to support them with me.

PACOM: Spirit of Cooperation

2007-05-21T17:31:00.001-04:00

As part of my PACOM series (other posts here and here), I'd like to introduce you to Major Paul Young, of the Canadian Air Force. That's right folks, there's a Canuck on Oahu, and he isn't just there to golf.

He stands apart from his American counterparts, with his darker green digitized uniform (apparently the basis for much teasing from his paler-green desk mates), soft-featured, friendly face and spectacles. Originally from the Maritimes, Major Young had been based in Winnipeg for the longest time before becoming part of the exchange program, moving his family to Oahu (there are worse postings to have to convince your wife of, I'm sure). There are currently 12 Canadians in various parts of the US Military machine (Canada offers just one spot for an American - currently vacant).

The exchange gives our Canadian soldiers an opportunity to work with bigger machines, better toys, and - in the case of Major Young, who works in Logistics - larger amounts of money and personnel. When I asked him, not totally understanding his role there, what he worked on, he said "American things. I work for the US Military. I don't sit at that desk working on anything Canadian." It's actually a very strange working relationship, since he will sit in his little cubicle, next to the Americans; together they will discuss various problems and solutions throughout the day, yet he is restricted from accessing certain areas of the very computer programs and databases he's meant to be working on. He is, after all, a foreign national.

Unfortunately I was only able to spend a few minutes with Major Young, but I could see he was happy with his role at PACOM. When I spoke with LTC Upson, who works with Major Young, he had only good things to say. Major Young is a well liked and respected colleague - one of their own.

And two became one....

2007-05-09T19:01:00.000-04:00

Veteran Percy "Dwight" Wilson died this morning at the age of 106, leaving only one known surviving veteran of the First World War.

Wilson passed "peacefully" at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Canada's largest veterans' care facility, where flags were lowered to half-mast in honour of the veteran.

Bless him, and thank him for his service to Canada and the cause of freedom. I'm glad his death was peaceful.

Return of the Blog

2007-05-02T21:47:00.000-04:00

Firstly I want to apologize for abandoning the blog. It doesn't mean I've abandoned Canadian Angels. In fact, we've been very busy. This coming weekend is the MilBlog Conference in Washington DC.

And our operations with Landstuhl Hospital in Germany are ongoing. If you want to see what Soldiers Angels does over there, check out this post by MaryAnn. You'll see her set-up, and where your donations are going.

I promise, I will check in more often going forward.

A positive letter from the Toronto Star

2006-10-12T12:01:00.000-04:00

From Julie Freeman, from her letter to the editor, Toronto Star, today.

I want to thank Rosie DiManno for her article about Afghanistan. One of my closest friends is fighting in Afghanistan right now and when he left I hated the military and the government for sending him somewhere so dangerous for something that meant nothing to me.

I felt this until I asked him about the mission, and until I educated myself about why Canadians are fighting, and dying, in a country that is so far removed from mine, both geographically and ideologically.

I felt this until I learned the inhuman things that the Taliban were doing to the Afghan people. I am now thankful every single day that I can go to school, work, express my opinions and even dance and sing in public if I feel like it, without fear of repercussions.

Now, when people tell me that our soldiers are dying out there "for no reason," I try to help them understand the noble and generous sacrifices these people are making. To willingly put your life on the line so that people you may never meet can have a better life is the bravest act and the greatest example of kindness toward all humanity that I can possibly imagine.

Thank you to the men and women of the Canadian Forces who have given their lives for others. And thank you to the men and women of the Canadian Forces who continue to fight, and support those who fight, under frightening and dangerous circumstances for this cause.

Supporting the troops means more than wearing red

2006-10-01T14:26:00.000-04:00

Yesterday as I walked through Bloor West Village, I saw two kids from the Royal Canadian Air Cadets walking toward me. These are girls and boys between 12 and 18 who are learning the disciplines of the Canadian military in a structured but fun part-time environment. Many of these youth will grow up to have further affiliation with the Canadian Forces. They are the next generation of our soldiers, airmen, sailors and submariners. Several times a year they do fundraising drives, asking for spare change. I always make it a point to give them whatever I can. To me, supporting the troops we have deployed right now not only means writing letters and wearing red - it also means helping to groom their replacements; the ones who will one day be defending our country.

When you see the Cadets fundrasing in your neighborhood, be sure to drop a few coins in their collection box.

Toronto Supports Our Troops

2006-09-24T18:34:00.000-04:00

And even Jack Layton is invited. Every Torontonian who cares is. No politics. We've had all we need of that. Just support for our men and women fighting for freedom.

The only requirement (and even that is optional) is to wear something red to send a message to our soldiers in Afghanistan that Canada's largest city cares. All of us. Left, right, centre. Canadians.

The momentum began yesterday in Ottawa as thousands flocked to Parliament Hill in the first pro-troop rally. Some estimates had it at 10,000. I am so proud. I knew a lot of people were solidly behind our fighting men and women.

It doesn't have to be as big, but I am hoping we can do something like that here. A lot of people have told me they didn't hear about the rally in Ottawa until my last column and they would like to show their support too.

Now many of you know I couldn't organize a drunk-up in a distillery, so if somebody wants to help do this in a bigger way, e-mail me and we'll do it.

Nothing fancy. We're just going to do our part.

Big or small, either way, I will be at Yonge-Dundas Square between noon and 1:30 p.m. next Friday wearing red and white and saying thank-you to the service men and women in Afghanistan. And thank you to those who have already died. Join me.

I'll be there. Will you?

Remembering why we fight

2006-09-11T21:48:00.000-04:00

There has been a lot of grief lately at the loss of Canada's and Britain's fighting forces, and a lot of weakness on the part of certain groups who want to run away. But please try to put things into perspective and remember why we went to Afghanistan in the first place.

A Tribute

2006-07-24T22:11:00.000-04:00

A link was sent to me for this wonderful video dedicated to our Canadian military. It is a tribute to those we've lost (it is a little out of date, and ends with Randy Payne) and the sacrifices they made for their country and for you and I.

Our Prayers are with them all

2006-07-22T17:09:00.000-04:00

Two Canadians killed in Afghanistan, 8 wounded

Two Canadian soldiers were killed and eight others wounded early this evening here in a double-barreled suicide bombing which also killed at least three and perhaps as many as seven Afghan civilians and injured numerous others.

The dead Canadians are 44-year-old Corporal Francisco Gomez of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, whose home unit is Lord Strathcona's Horse of Edmonton, and Corporal Jason Patrick Warren, 29, of the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment) based in Montreal.

An American in Germany thanks A Canadian from Laos

2006-07-04T14:41:00.000-04:00

We truly are living in a global village.

MaryAnn from Soldiers Angels Germany writes of Master Bombardier Bounyarat Tanaphon Makthepharak of the 30th Field Regiment of the Royal Canadian Artillery, one of the many wounded she tends to at Landstuhl Hospital.

Last Friday, the day before Canada Day, Mak was seriously injured in the Taleban rocket attack on the coaltion base in Kandahar that also injured another Canadian soldier, five U.S. troops, and three civilian workers.

[snip]

As soon as he could speak, Mak asked the nurses to tell his mother he's "going to be ok."

David Warren writes of strength

2006-07-04T13:41:00.000-04:00

In his Dominion Day post, he speaks to the strength of our heroes; those on today's battlefields and those gone before.

The very best of Canada is now on the field by Kandahar, doing what Canadian soldiers have always done, building order against tyranny at the risk of their own lives, and slicing the heads off dragons. It is an act of good faith that gives me hope for Canada again, this bold commitment to do our share of the damage against a ghastly enemy, now in Afghanistan’s poppy fields. (For this, Grits and Tories alike are due praise.) Call it if you will our legacy from the Crusaders -- another proud word, not to be denied -- I will speak without shame about valour.

Happy Canada Day!

2006-07-01T11:52:00.000-04:00

To all our men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces, at home and abroad, with family or in the danger zones, Canadian Angels wishes you a safe and happy Canada Day!

Military Family Day

2006-06-25T17:52:00.000-04:00

There was a Family Day celebration in Petawawa today, with Governor General Michaelle Jean and General Rick Hillier in attendence. It was a great way to celebrate the sendoff for the men and women heading to Afghanistan in August.

If anyone in who was there got pictures, please drop me an email and I'll post your photos.

Totebags of love from home

2006-06-23T21:27:00.000-04:00

Paul & Kathy of Newfoundland have sent totebags over to Landstuhl hospital in Germany for injured Canadian soldiers.

Contents include:

Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Deodorant, old spice
Canada teddy bear
2 bags Purity candy ( made in St.John's, NL )
Canada T-Shirt
Boxer shorts
socks
Word puzzle book
Writing note book
Canada writing pen
Ball cap ( Newfoundland )
Car magnet of Newfoundland
Key chain holder
Key chain
Brochures of Newfoundland ( reading material )
Letter to Hero
Newfoundland tote bag ( to hold all the goodies )

Paul and Kathy have enormous hearts, and their generosity will surely be appreciated by a sick and scared soldeir on his way home. They truly are Angels.

If anyone else would like to contribute, please drop me an email and I'll tell you how.

Badly wounded soldier makes remarkable recovery

2006-06-20T18:00:00.000-04:00

Cpl. Jeffrey Bailey was riding in a convoy last January when a car bomb exploded. The attack killed a Canadian diplomat and wounded two fellow soldiers.

Bailey's head injury was so bad he wasn't expected to live. But Bailey beat those odds.

His words come slower and it bothers him that he can't work out the way he used to, but he says he's getting better every day.

"I'm out of hospital now and just want to get on with things now," he told reporters in Edmonton. "That's the way I've always been, [I] just want to help myself. This is getting old for me now."

Wonderful news! Our thoughts and prayers are with Cpl. Bailey as he recovers.

What our troops are up to

2006-06-20T10:58:00.000-04:00

Lest you think it's all about the shooting, it's not. It's also about the healing. For example, a VMO - Village Medical Outreach.

Check out pics at Far From Canadahar.

No, I'm not ignoring you

2006-06-19T15:18:00.000-04:00

I thought I'd better check in, let everyone know what the latest news is.

Currently, Canadian Angels is running on an extremely high Angel-to-soldier ration (which is great - it means every soldier who applies will get an Angel right away). This means that I don't have enough soldiers to go around as yet, but it also means that the ones I do have are spoiled rotten. Which was the whole point of the exercise.

So if you've applied to adopt a soldier, please do not despair. As soon as I have one for you, I will send the info along, and you can commence letting him or her know how appreciated they truly are.

New Base in Taliban Country

2006-06-11T10:35:00.000-04:00

Canadian troops open base in Taliban territory

Forward Operating Base Martello is a bleak, dusty fortress gouged deep into the top of rocky ridges that command the El Bak valley about 200 kilometres north of Kandahar.

Protected by a cordon of Canadian soldiers and Afghan troops brandishing AK-47 assault rifles, army and police officers held a Shura with village leaders within the razor-wired bastion.

Brig.-Gen. David Fraser said the fort will help coalition forces root out Taliban in the area and set the stage for development projects, such as schools and health facilities.

"We are going into the traditional areas where the Taliban live and operate," said Fraser, commander of the multinational brigade in southern Afghanistan.

This is frightening territory, but I don't think our troops are afraid. It's the best way to root out the evil that lives there, get the job done, and get home.

Best of luck to our Forces at FOB Martello!

CDs for our troops!!!

2006-06-02T12:09:00.000-04:00

I heard via my new friend Angeie at Married to the Canadian Forces that she has received a lovely surprise for our troops overseas.

Barenaked Ladies: Donated 3700 copies of their Christmas CD for our troops

Shawn Hlookoff: Donated 3700 copies of his single Soldier

Brothers Creeggan: Also donated 3700 CDs

Items will be shipped to Afghanistan closer to Christmastime.

Red on Friday

2006-06-02T10:57:00.000-04:00

I know I'm a little late jumping onto this bandwagon, but I finally went out and bought myself a red t-shirt for use on Fridays.

Married to the Canadian Forces brought the program to Canada as a way for civilians like me to show support for our troops.

Are you wearing red today?

What the Military does for its Members

2006-06-02T09:15:00.000-04:00

I was cruising the DND Amenities site last night, to see what kind of goodies our troops can count on receiving, just so that the Angels are not doubling up with what they send over. It's an excellent site. Check out the Canada Day section!

Lots to cover

2006-05-31T11:35:00.000-04:00

There will be a few changes over the next few days at Canadian Angels. One is a new opportunity to share a program with the Soldiers Angels which they call Blankets of Hope (I want to come up with a suitably Canadian Name for our side of things!!). The Blankets of Hope are made or purchased by Angels in the US, and shipped to field hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to Landstuhl Hospital in Germany where the seriously injured are taken. Injured soldiers are given the blankets with a little tag telling them who it is from. Canadians who would like to participate can contact Retta at dodgecityangel@yahoo.ca .

I will also be collecting get-well notes and postcards to send to Landstuhl. Address info to follow (I need to get a PO Box!).

From a corporate perspective, Canadian Angels will be receiving artwork and technical assistance from the amazingly generous employees at The Tube Store in Alberta. Dan contacted me the day Canadian Angels went live to offer me assistance, which I gratefully accepted. The Tube Store had previously been doing their bit to assist American troops in Iraq, and when the opportunity arose to assist our own guys and gals, they were glad to help in any way they could. Thanks to everyone at The Tube Store!!

There is also now a Guidelines page at Canadian Angels to help the Angels get started.

We have received nearly a hundred volunteer Angels so far! The support has been amazing, and I want to give a great big thanks to everyone who has signed up to adopt a soldier. Keep those adoption requests coming!

We're getting great feedback from those in the Forces as well. I will post more on that soon.

Five Canadians Injured, Two Brits Killed

2006-05-29T09:54:00.000-04:00

Our thoughts and paryers go out the the families of two British soldiers killed in Basra.

The incident happened in Gizayza, north-west Basra, during a routine patrol in an armoured Land Rover, in support of operations to disrupt the insurgency.

Defence Secretary Des Browne said: "It was with profound sorrow that I heard of the tragic deaths last night of two British soldiers.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends of these brave men. I am told that two other soldiers have sustained minor injuries."

Although we know it can never ease the pain, please know that they died as heroes.

Five Canadians were injured in a gunbattle wast of Kandahar.

The Canadian soldiers were on a patrol about 13 miles (20 kilometers) west of Kandahar when they were ambushed by militants early Monday, said Maj. Mario Couture, a coalition spokesman.

Five soldiers were wounded, including one who was seriously injured and flown to Germany for medical treatment, he said.

Fear not - those soldiers shipped to Germany are being cared for by not only an excellent medical team, but by MaryAnn at the Germnay branch of Soldiers Angels. MaryAnn and I have been communicating a lot recently, and she will be providing the Canadians with the get well notes Canadian Angels has sent over. Soldiers Angels believes that NO soldier should be left behind, and that includes us Canucks.

Thank you MaryAnn, for doing what we are too far away to do.

I received this from a Canadian Serviceman

2006-05-28T09:55:00.000-04:00

I am a small and precious child,
my dad's been sent to fight...
The only place I'll see his face,
is in my dreams at night.
He will be gone too many days
For my young mind to keep track.
I may be sad, but I am proud.
My daddy's got your back.

I am a strong and loving wife,
with a husband soon to go.
There are times I'm terrified
in a way most never know.
I bite my lip, and force a smile
as I watch my husband pack...
My heart may break, but I am proud.
My husbands got your back...

I am a soldier, Serving Proudly, standing tall.
I fight for freedom, yours and mine by answering this call.
I do my job while knowing, the thanks it sometimes lacks.
Say a prayer that I'll come home. It's me who's got your back.

He sends the following message:

I would urge all of you as good, God fearing, patriotic, CANADIAN citizens to stand by all of the people that are already over there preparing to give their lives for us and our way of life.

The Soldier

2006-05-25T19:18:00.000-04:00

I found this on another blog, and wanted to share...

A soldier stood and faced his God,
Which must always come to pass.
He hoped his shoes were shining,
Just as brightly as his brass.

"Step forward now, soldier,
How shall I deal with you ?
Have you always turned the other cheek ?
To My Church have you been true?"

The soldier squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't.
Because those of us who carry guns,
Can't always be a saint.

I've had to work most Sundays,
And at times my talk was tough.
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.

But, I never took a penny,
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime,
When the bills got just too steep.

And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear.
And sometimes, God, forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.

I know I don't deserve a place,
Among the people here.
They never wanted me around,
Except to calm their fears.

If you've a place for me here, Lord,
It needn't be so grand.
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand.

There was a silence all around the throne,
Where the saints had often trod.
As the soldier waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.

"Step forward now, soldier,
You've borne your burdens well.
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

~Author Unknown~

Helping us help you

2006-05-25T18:32:00.000-04:00

Today I spoke with a member of the Armed Forces in Ottawa, who made a couple of suggestions for the Canadian Angels. Some of them I felt were very obvious, and others needed to be explained to me.

The two main points:

For reasons of privacy, only the soldier or an immediate family member should be able to sign them up. Random friends or strangers would be inappropriate. I'm okay with that.

The Canadian military is different from the Americans in many ways. It's no secret that we have fewer resources. We have been asked to please limit the size and weight of packages going over. Cards, letters - always great. Small packets, not too much of a problem. Large boxes? Maybe only around the holidays. I definitely agree with that point, as I can understand how quickly the military planes must get filled, how expensive it must be to make the trips over with supplies, equipment and mail, and how much the fuel is costing these days.

Remember, we are here to help the military in any way we can, and that includes the guys in Ottawa making the rules. To that end, a couple of small changes will be made on Canadian Angels later on tonight.

Support from Soldiers Angels

2006-05-24T19:35:00.000-04:00

I received a wonderful email today from Retta, a fellow Canadian Soldiers Angels. Retta had been trying to set up a Canadian version of Soldiers Angels, officially affiliated with the American program. And then, without knowing any of this, I came lumbering into the fore.

Well, instead of acting territorial, or claiming that she had been there first, Retta has instead decided to join me and we'll pool our resources. For both of us, our first priority are the Canadian Armed Forces, serving overseas and facing danger day after day. Don't be surprised if you see Retta around here from time to time.

And Soldiers Angels has thrown their support behind Canadian Angels as well.

Today has been a great day.

Lucky outcome from a bad situation

2006-05-24T13:47:00.000-04:00

A British military plane caught fire while landing in Kabul, but all aboard escaped without harm.

Thank God.

Canadian Angels Podcast

2006-05-23T20:04:00.000-04:00

The Canadian Angels podcast with PA Pundits is up here. Go have a listen.

The military must be too risqué for Toronto

2006-05-23T18:58:00.000-04:00

Well, as it turns out, Canadian Angels did make it into the National Post on Saturday, just not the Toronto edition. Toronto. Where I live. And buy the paper.

The front page of the Saturday National Post in Toronto was a pair of socks. Because socks are peaceful. Socks don't fight. Socks don't die.

Toronto can apparently only handle the fluff pieces about socks, whereas the rest of Canada has the guts to deal with the Armed Forces. Siri Agrell wrote a great piece, and at least the rest of Canada got to see it. If she has her way, Toronto may see it tomorrow. If not, and we wind up with tulips or something equally inoffensive, here is what she wrote:

Soldiers to get gifts from 'Angels': Torontonian inspired by U.S. group
National Post
Saturday, May 20, 2006
Page: A8
Section: Canada
Byline: Siri Agrell
Source: National Post

A Toronto woman has started a network to allow Canadians to express their
support for members of the armed forces.

Wendy Sullivan, a legal assistant and part-time blogger, yesterday launched
a Canadian version of Soldiers' Angels, a popular U.S. group that sends
letters, e-mails and care packages to members of the military.

Canadian Angels, which can be found at www.canadianangels.org, hopes to pair
citizens with Canadian armed forces personnel stationed in Afghanistan or
here at home.

Ms. Sullivan, who has no personal connection to the armed forces in Canada
or the United States, said she has long been looking for a way to express
her support for the Canadian military, but found few means to do so.

For the past year, as a member of Soldiers' Angels, Ms. Sullivan has sent
messages and gifts of support to individual U.S. soldiers in Iraq, joined a
group that has "adopted" the 82 Airborne division and raised money for a
program that provides voice-activated lap tops to wounded soldiers.

"It's really just a matter of sending letters, remembering birthdays,
sending off Christmas presents," she said. "All it is, is keeping in touch
and letting them know that there's someone at home who is thinking about
them."

Her main problem will be finding the names of individual soldiers for her
"angels" to communicate with.

"The system in the Canadian military is that you can send a package to a
soldier if you have his or her name and address, but you can not send
general mail," she said. "That leaves a whole bunch of people not being able
to hear from me. Short of showing up on [General Rick] Hillier's doorstep
and saying 'Hi, I'm Wendy,' I'm not quite sure what to do."

She received an e-mail from Patti Bader, head of the U.S. Soldiers' Angels
network, who gave her blessing and support to the project and Ms. Sullivan
also hopes to find a corporate partner. In the United States, a company
called Minimus provides travel- sized snacks and other products to the
Soldiers' Angel group and makes up care packages it ships to U.S. military
bases.

"I just sent one out to one of my American guys in Iraq," Ms. Sullivan said
yesterday. "They range in price from about $10 to $150 and it's just so
easy."

From her experience with such projects in the United States, Ms. Sullivan
says she knows first-hand how much these gifts can mean to soldiers and
hopes the project will take off in Canada.

She dismisses the idea that it is unfair to send gifts to some soldiers to
the exclusion of others, which is why the Canadian Armed Forces discourages
the public from sending gifts.

"Saying that they can't give things to some soldiers and not all of them, to
me that's kindergarten not war," she said. "I want to spoil them rotten."

"I thought, well, if I can't help the guy next door, I can help the country
next door, so I joined Soldiers' Angels," she said.

Ms. Sullivan is in the process of registering Canadian Angels as a
charitable organization, but she said she has already signed up about 20
volunteers and had people send money and express their support for the
project.

sagrell@nationalpost.com

Canadian Angels in the News

2006-05-22T15:18:00.000-04:00

I will be on The World Tonight with Rob Breakenridge on CHQR in Calgary at 8:05pm Mountain Time tonight to talk about Canadian Angels.

Canadian Military Assists in Af'stan Development

2006-05-22T11:30:00.000-04:00

I saw this article from the Globe & Mail this morning:

The aid project, the brainchild of the Canadian International Development Agency, was unveiled under tight security at a meeting of 300 tribal elders yesterday in a dusty desert village in the heart of Taliban territory in northeastern Kandahar province.

The region is so dangerous that the meeting had to be guarded by scores of heavily armed troops, policemen, bodyguards and security agents -- including a convoy of Canadian armoured vehicles and several dozen Canadian soldiers.

The aid project is to give villagers in rural areas an alternative to the Taliban for protection, funding and rule.

The new Canadian program, created by CIDA, is an unprecedented exercise in consulting Afghans on their own needs and priorities. It aims to rebuild the shattered authority of Afghanistan's local governments, giving people control of their own schools and clinics, and making the Taliban a much less attractive option.

"It's a uniquely Canadian approach," said an official of Canada's provincial reconstruction team in Kandahar. "It's never been done before. The whole point is community participation. If an insurgent comes to burn your school, you're more likely to defend it if it's your own school."

Looks like our men and women on the front lines are providing a very useful service to the redevelopment of very dangerous territory. I shall be keeping an eye on this story.

*************************************************

In other news, emails have been flying back and forth between members of the original Soldiers Angels, other bloggers, myself... So I'll set the record straight.

Canadian Angels is not officially affiliated with Soldiers Angels in the USA, though it is based on the same premise: to support those on the front lines and show them they are loved. Canadian Angels has received the blessing of Patti Bader, founder of Soldiers Angels, who emailed me on Friday to tell me she was proud of me. It brought tears to my eyes.

The idea is to work together to make sure we don't miss anyone. If Patti's organization can do something easier and more efficiently, then they absolutely should. But if I can get more Canadians involved in the support of their soldiers, the way I have been supporting American Forces through Soldiers Angels, then I welcome the opportunity to do so.

And in addition, Canadians sending mail to Canadian troops pay less in postage. It's as simple as that. Sometimes it just makes more sense to have a localized angency assisting.

I envision a situation where Angels on both sides of the 49th Parallel feel comfortable exchanging information. We are all in this together. And that's a blessing in itself.

What a great first couple of days

2006-05-20T21:23:00.000-04:00

In less than two days, my little idea has grown incredibly. I really want to thank the 30+ volunteers who have already signed up, with more emails coming in every hour. I have had calls offering me technical and financial help. I have been contacted by Siri Agrell of the National Post to do a follow-up on her piece of May 6th. And on Monday night I will be speaking to Rob Breakenridge on CHQR (Calgary) at 8:05pm Mountain Time.

The first post on the blog was entitled "Countering Apathy", but now I am beginning to rethink that. Canadians are not apathetic toward their military at all. They really care, as they've shown over the past couple of days.

Our main shortcoming remains the inability to get the word out to the troops en masse, but the applications are trickling in nonetheless.

People are offering advice, too. One person pointed out (to my shame) that I had referred to all our Forces as "soldiers", instead of the soldiers, sailors and airmen that are over there. It's a silly mistake that I promise will be corrected.

Keep the applications coming. As soon as we have more soldiers, everyone will have one to sponsor. And thanks again for all you've done so far.

We're open for business!!

2006-05-19T10:20:00.000-04:00

Canadian Angels is officially launched, and volunteer applications have begun pouring in. It's heartwarming to see how many people want to support our troops and give them a helping hand when they're so far from home.

Now we need to get the word out to the troops themselves. So far, I have angels, and no one to match them to!! So if you have a friend or family member in the Armed Forces, spread the word. Maybe they don't need the extra attention (though really, who doesn't?), but they know someone who does. Someone who may not get a lot of mail, or who is stuck in a field hospital, or who is feeling kinda down. Sign 'em up! Believe me, there is more than enough love to go around.

We carry on

2006-05-17T22:09:00.000-04:00

The results of the vote in the house of commons are in (149-145). Canada will fight in Afghanistan at least until 2009. Time to get a move on. Our military is thin, but their tough. Let's show them that we appreciate the efforts they make to keep us secure and free.

Visit us at Canadian Angels, and drop an email to sign up.

Tonight's a big night

2006-05-17T18:32:00.000-04:00

Tonight our parliament will vote to see if the Canadian Forces will remain in Afghanistan for an additional two years, bringing us into 2009. Whether or not my project to support the troops goes forward is contingent on what is decided in Commons tonight. Check back for further update.

Countering Apathy

2006-05-16T12:43:00.000-04:00

Welcome to Canadian Angels. This is only the first post of a new project, based on the wonderful work of Soldiers Angels in the United States. In the U.S., support of the troops is a time honoured tradition. Here in Canada, as well as in the coalition countries such as Britain, Australia, Poland and Italy, no such program exists. Is it because we don't care enough? Are we apathetic? Or are we just waiting for someone to make the first move?

I have thought of launching something like this before, and was finally spurred to action thanks to the dozens of emails I've received via Girl on the Right, and the article in the National Post for Saturday, May 6, 2006 about how it's time for us to give back to the men and women who fight for our freedoms. Make no mistake - these people are not just "peacekeepers." They fight. Life is hard, and they do their best to keep morale up. Wouldn't you like to help? I know I would.

In the next week or so, there will be an official Canadian Angels website where soldiers can sign up to receive care packages, and volunteers can sign up to be matched with them. In the meantime, if you want to get a head start, please email me at canadianangels@gmail.com.