Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan
Last Updated: Wednesday, October 28, 2009 | 11:33 PM ET
CBC News
Lt. Justin Garrett Boyes, 26, was killed by an explosion on Wednesday near Kandahar City in the Panjwayi district. (Department of Defence)One Canadian soldier was killed and two were injured Wednesday in Afghanistan by an improvised explosive device.
Lt. Justin Garrett Boyes, 26, was killed when his foot patrol was hit by the blast, at about 9 a.m. local time, 20 kilometres southwest of Kandahar City in Panjwayi district.
Boyes belonged to the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry based in Edmonton and was 10 days into his second deployment to Afghanistan when he was killed. At the time of his death, Boyes was mentoring an Afghan national police patrol.
Two other soldiers who were wounded in the incident were treated at the Kandahar Airfield medical facility and are in good condition.
Boyes is survived by his wife Alanna and son, James, 3, his parents Angela and Brian, a brother serving with the 2nd Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry in Shilo, Man., as well as a sister living in the U.K.
In Kandahar, Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance called Boyes "a dedicated family man" who spent every possible moment with his wife and son.
"Growing up in Saskatchewan, he was an easy-going Prairie boy who preferred sitting around the backyard with good friends, his family and a cold drink."
Boyes is the first Canadian soldier to be killed in action in October.
Canada's last casualty was Pte. Jonathan Couturier of the 2nd Battalion, Royal 22nd Regiment, based in Valcartier, Que., who died when his armoured vehicle struck an improvised explosive device on Sept. 17.
Boyes is the 132nd Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2002.
With files from The Canadian PressShare Tools
Top News Headlines
- Immigrants the proudest Canadians, poll suggests

- Most Canadians feel immigrants are just as likely to be good Canadian citizens as people who were born here and don't object to them keeping their original citizenship, according to a recent Environics survey. more »
- NDP MPs urged to scrap gun registry in final vote
- Public Safety Minister Vic Toews urges opposition MPs to break party ranks and side with the government during tonight's vote on scrapping the long-gun registry. more »
- Honduras prison fire kills hundreds
- Trapped inmates screamed from their cells as a fire swept through a Honduran prison, killing at least 300 inmates in one of the world's deadliest fires in decades, authorities said Wednesday. more »
- Iran trying to 'distract attention' from sanctions
- The United States says Iran is lashing out at the world to distract attention from the damage that international sanctions are having at home. more »
Latest World News Headlines
- Honduras prison fire kills hundreds
- Trapped inmates screamed from their cells as a fire swept through a Honduran prison, killing at least 300 inmates in one of the world's deadliest fires in decades, authorities said Wednesday. more »
- Syrian president 'stalls for time' with referendum
- While the Syrian military besieged rebellious areas, the president ordered a referendum for Feb. 26 on a new constitution that would open the way to political parties other than his ruling Baath Party. more »
- Syria oil pipeline blast
- An explosion hit a major oil pipeline feeding a refinery in Homs, Syria, on Wednesday, witnesses say. The blast struck the pipeline near a district being shelled by government troops. more »
- 6 ways Greece can bounce back
- Although Greece's economic future seems dire, a number of the country's sectors show promise, according to observers. more »
Dispatches »
- Syrian refugees' defiance and division Feb. 14, 2012 4:48 PM With the deadly game in Syria changing almost daily, CBC's Derek Stoffel in Turkey met militant refugees who reflect the division in the rebel forces about whether to go it alone or wait for the international community to back them against the current regime.
Connect Newsroom Blog
Second Chances, Lin-sanity & Nanaimo Love Feb. 14, 2012 5:55 PM Jeremy Lin and the New York Knicks are in Toronto tonight and we're going to find out what all the fuss is about.
- Barefoot Newfoundland girl survives icy ordeal
- Immigrants the proudest Canadians, poll suggests
- Legalize pot, say former B.C. attorneys general
- Online privacy erosion dismays critics
- Russians in abusive plane tirade to be sentenced
- Botox injected by unlicensed practitioners
- Honduras prison fire kills hundreds
- Trudeau says sovereignty less of a bogeyman now
- Toronto NBA fans experience 'Lin-sanity'

