Canadian military officials released on Saturday the identity of a soldier from Thunder Bay, Ont., who was killed while on foot patrol west of Kandahar.

Pte. Josh Klukie, a member of the 1st Battalion, Royal Canadian Regiment, which is based at CFB Petawawa near Ottawa, died Friday after triggering what may have been an improvised explosive device (IED) on a road in Afghanistan's Panjwaii district.

Private Josh Klukie, a member of 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment, was killed on Sept. 29, 2006 in Afghanistan.
(Department of National Defence)

Military officials have not released his age. His remains have been flown to Kandahar airfield.

A woman at the home of Klukie's mother in Thunder Bay told the Canadian Press on Saturday that the family had no comment.

Capt. Jim Davis of Thunder Bay's Lake Superior Scottish Regiment said a public affairs officer from Winnipeg was en route to Klukie's hometown. Davis said officials were trying to organize a news conference where a family representative would likely speak to the media.

PM offers condolences

Prime Minister Stephen Harper expressed his condolences Saturday to Klukie's family and friends.

"Canadians will not forget the dedication and courage he demonstrated," Harper said in a statement. "We are proud of him, and humbled by his willingness to serve Canada."

The military said one other soldier, Cpl. James Miller, of Hamilton, became deaf in his left ear and suffered a possible concussion in the incident.

Col. Fred Lewis said the soldiers were on patrol on a combat road created by a bulldozer for Operation Medusa, the large-scale offensive aimed at driving Taliban fighters from their strongholds in southern Afghanistan.

Device planted in road

He said an IED or a landmine planted in the road and one of the soldiers triggered it.

"The use of IEDs by insurgents indicates their callous lack of regard for people in the region," Lewis said. "It could have just as easily been a bunch of children playing in the area."

Lewis said it appeared unlikely the device had been set off by remote control.

The news came the same day funerals were scheduled for three of four Canadian soldiers killed earlier this month. They died when a suicide bomber on a bicycle detonated a device near the Canadians, who were on foot patrol.

Speaking from Kabul, NATO spokesman Mark Laity told CBC Newsworld soldiers know it is dangerous to get out of the armoured vehicles, but believe it is necessary if they want to win the "hearts and minds" of Afghans.

"These are soldiers. They understand they have to take these risks," he said.

More than 2,000 Canadians are serving in Afghanistan's volatile southern region. With the latest death, 37 Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have been killed since the mission started four years ago.

With files from the Canadian Press