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
BREAKING Quebec judge orders bus driver to stand trial for 2023 daycare crash deaths
A judge has ordered a Quebec man to stand trial on charges of first-degree murder in the deaths of two children killed when a bus rammed into a Montreal-area daycare last year.
Sunshine list: These were the Ontario public sector's highest earners in 2023
Ontario released its annual sunshine list Thursday afternoon, noting that the largest year-over-year increases were in hospitals, municipalities, and post-secondary sectors.
Multiple bridges in Calgary shut down for police incident
Calgary police have shut down a number of bridges into and out of the downtown core as officers deal with a distraught individual.
Trudeau's latest pre-budget pledge targets millennial moms, vowing $1B in loans for more child-care spaces
The federal government is launching a new loan program to help child-care providers in Canada expand their spaces, and will be extending further student loan forgiveness and training options for early childhood educators, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Thursday.
Why some Christians are angry about Trump's 'God Bless the USA' Bible
Former U.S. President Donald Trump is officially selling a copy of the Bible themed to Lee Greenwood’s famous song, 'God Bless the USA.' But the concept of a Bible covered in the American flag has raised concern among religious circles.
Krispy Kreme doughnuts coming to McDonald's in U.S., but not Canada
Canadians will be missing out on a sweet new partnership between McDonald's and Krispy Kreme, which will see doughnuts available at McDonald's locations across the U.S. by the end of 2026.
Calgary officer charged after allegedly assaulting handcuffed man
A Calgary police officer has been charged after allegedly assaulting a handcuffed man two years ago.
Where is the worst place for allergy sufferers in Canada?
The spring allergy season has started early in many parts of Canada, with high levels of pollen in some cities already. Experts weigh in on which areas have it worse so far this season.
How do you navigate the social media minefield with your kids?
Growing fears about social media's harm have sparked lawsuits against social media companies from hundreds of school districts in the United States and now Canada. CTVNews.ca wants to know whether your children are addicted to social media or if you have concerns about their usage of platforms such as Facebook, Snapchat, TikTok and X.