Okanagan Military Museum
SPECIAL EVENTS
CANADIAN FORCES SPEAKER 'DOUBLE FEATURE" EVENT
Two Canadian Forces members will be in Kelowna to speak to those interested in finding out more about the overseas humanitarian and civil assistance efforts of the Canadian Forces.
When: Saturday, 18 September 2010 between 1 and 4 p.m
Where: Okanagan Military Museum - 1424 Ellis Street (Memorial Arena) - in the museum’s 2nd floor Heritage Library.CF Speaker’ Double Feature’ Program:
• 1:00- 2:15 p.m. Commander Josee Kurtz, who commands HMCS HALIFAX, one of the Canadian Navy’s Patrol Frigates will speak about her ship’s role in OP HESTIA, the operational code name for Canada’s military and naval efforts to provide support to the earthquake stricken country of Haiti and its people. A 15 minute question period will follow Cdr Kurtz’s presentation.
• 2:15-2:45 p.m. Intermission – coffee, tea and cakes (offered courtesy of the OMMS).
• 2:45-4:00 p.m. Capt Cynthia Larue, A Canadian Forces Reserve Force Public Affairs Officer recently returned from an eight-month tour of duty with the Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) in Kandahar, Afghanistan, will speak on her experiences working with the PRT in its mission to assist in humanitarian assistance efforts in that area. A 15 minute question period will follow Captain Larue’s presentation.Note: Due to seating limitations those interested in attending either or both presentations are requested to contact OMMS Secretary Teresa Boehmer at tel: 250-763-9292 /email: ommsociety@yahoo.ca to reserve seating.
Cdr Josee Kurtz, Commanding Officer HMCS HALIFAX
Operation HESTIA: Canada’s Response to the Earthquake in Haiti -
A “Look-Back” with Commander Josée Kurtz“No task was too big or too small and the positive results achieved are a testament to the flexibility and agility of Canada’s sailors.” ~ Commander Josée Kurtz
On January 12, 2010, a catastrophic earthquake measuring 7.0 on the Richter scale struck Haiti, close to Port-au-Prince. The quake caused widespread devastation and loss of life.
Operation HESTIA was the Canadian Forces participation in humanitarian operations conducted in response to the catastrophic earthquake. From their arrival hours after the earthquake, approximately 2,000 personnel from the Army, Navy and Air Force helped countless people and provided medical care and humanitarian aid assistance, such as food and water delivery, security, engineering services, and search and rescue support.
HMCS Halifax transported hundreds of medical personnel, sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen ashore. Commander Josée Kurtz (Commanding Officer, HMCS Halifax) should know, as she and her crew played a vital role in the relief ffort, delivering basic comfort amid fear, destruction and distress.
You are invited to take the opportunity to hear from Commander Josée Kurtz as she reflects on Canada’s response in Haiti known as Operation HESTIA. The presentation reveals the immense scope of the operation and the remarkable efforts of the Canadian Forces, and their dedication to the Haitian populations of Port-au-Prince, Jacmel and Léogâne.
Capt Cynthia Larue, with local Afghan children
THE PROVINCIAL RECONSTRUCTION TEAM IN KANDAHAR: Canada’s efforts in assisting the people of Afghanistan reconstruction of their governmental and societal services – with Captain Cynthia Larue.
Captain Cynthia Larue served as the Public Affairs Officer for the Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT) during an eight-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
The bi-national, civilian and Canadian-led Kandahar Provincial Reconstruction Team (KPRT) is located at Camp Nathan Smith in Kandahar City, the former heartland of the Taliban regime. Located in the South of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Kandahar is one of the Afghan provinces in greatest need of support and is also among those most targeted by insurgents.
The civilian Director of the KPRT manages a team that combines the expertise of both Canadian and U.S diplomats and development specialists, Canadian police officers, including the RCMP, Canadian corrections experts and the military. Canada has approximately 80 civilian staff working out of the KPRT. The KPRT is one of 27 international PRTs across Afghanistan helping the democratically-elected government of Afghanistan extend its authority and ability to govern, rebuild the nation, and provide services to its citizens. To do so, the KPRT works on projects that have impacts in the short, medium and long term. The most important achievements will be those that foster long-term, sustainable benefits to the Afghan people. At the same time, “quick impact” projects are also being carried out across the province to respond to the immediate needs that Afghans face in their daily lives. In addition to the bi-national KPRT, Camp Nathan Smith also houses a detachment of ISAF Regional Command (South) Headquarters, U.S. military forces and a U.S. Army military police unit. This co-location, and the partnership that exists within the bi-national KPRT, ensures that there is cohesion between Canada’s efforts in Kandahar province and those of the United States. After five years of continuous responsibility for Camp Nathan Smith and the Kandahar City operating area, responsibility for the camp security and management was transferred from Canada to the United States in early August 2010 in line with the new division of coalition responsibilities in Southern Afghanistan. Accommodating several organizations including the KPRT, it is now a major coalition base in Kandahar City—an area for which the U.S. re-assumed responsibility in mid July 2010.
The August 2010 transfer of responsibility means that life support services such as camp security, health care, food and accommodations are now provided by the U.S. This administrative transfer does not affect the management of the Canadian-led KPRT or its focus on Canada’s stated priorities and signature projects.
