Edmonton-based soldiers head to Latvia as part of NATO mission
As the war on in Ukraine rages on, more than 100 Canadian soldiers are on their way to join NATO forces in Latvia as part of Operation Reassurance.
The troops, primarily based out of Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, will be away for six months.
“Canada maintains a battle group in Latvia and we just rotate those soldiers every six months or so,” Maj. John Miller said.
Operation Reassurance dates back to 2014.
“Started in Poland, and the mission evolved over time and now we’re heavily invested in the country of Latvia itself.”
“We’re working to deter any aggression against Latvia as well as prevent any additional aggression inside Eastern Europe.”
Latvia borders on Russia.
“Basically NATO has called for help to essentially ring Russia and basically form an alliance that will prevent any other aggressions or security concerns in that part of the world.”
The Canadian troops will join soldiers from nine other NATO countries for training and integration into the Latvian army.
“If anyone does attack Latvia, we’re fighting with the Latvian army,” Miller said.
He added that some of the soldiers are being deployed for the first time, while others have been to Latvia before.
“For ones that are going back repeatedly they’re usually in a higher level job so it’s a new set of challenges so I would say generally overall there’s a feeling of excitement.”
A Latvian ambassador said Operation Reassurance does just that for the country’s citizens.
“We feel secure regardless of the fact that there is a war next to our doors,” Kaspars Ozolins said.
He also thanked the soldiers, who will be away from their families at Christmas.
“I also want to extend thanks to the family that are supporting soldiers to their mission to Latvia, for us it is very, very important mission.”
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Amanda Anderson.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.