The Afghanistan War Memorial was erected to honour the 40,000 Canadian Forces personnel who volunteered to serve in Afghanistan. It especially honours those men and women who gave their lives for the cause. A total of 159 Canadian Forces personnel lost their lives. The number of Canadian Forces fatalities resulting from Canadian military activities in Afghanistan, is the largest for any single Canadian military mission since the Korean Conflict. It also saw the first deployed Canadian female combatant to die. Averaged across all missions, women represented approximately ten per cent of personnel deployed. Many of the 40,000 - over 15% - were Reservists who volunteered through their local Militia units. Our own 31 Combat Engineer Regiment (The Elgins) sent 34 personnel in total, with some doing multiple tours.

About the Afghanistan Monument
by Tyler Fauvelle, Sculptor

This artwork is about connection. A soldier serves Canada far away from home, in Afghanistan. As others have before him, he rests, still alert, and thinks about home, family, comrades, and sacrifices made of mind and body. The narratives change, but the conflicts and soldiers of then, now, and tomorrow are all connected, because freedom still has the same price. The munitions crate blends historical and modern design, so that it can’t be set in time. A Canadian beaver, featured on the side of the crate, represents engineering and unwavering perseverance. The beaver is a foundational symbol of Canada and has long been the mark of Canada’s military engineers. Visitors are encouraged to sit awhile with this young soldier, and reflect on the bravery, honour, and sacrifice of all those who served and never came home…who served, but were changed in ways only other veterans can know…who continue to serve, forever connected to their brothers and sisters in arms.

Tyler has been a professional sculptor since 2008. Inspired by Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, he sculpts in clay and casts most of his artwork in bronze. As a Canadian artist, he is proud that all his work is created and cast in Ontario. His public monuments include commemorations of military heroes, cultural champions, and Canadian mining pioneers. In 2016, he had the privilege of creating a life-sized bronze which commemorated Francis Pegahmagabow, Canada’s most highly-decorated Indigenous hero of the Great War. It is located on the Georgian Bay waterfront in Parry Sound. In honour of their dedication and sacrifice, his latest bronze located in St Thomas commemorates members of the Canadian Armed Forces who served in Afghanistan. Tyler lives and works in Lively, Ontario, with his wife and partner, Jana.