Canadian soldiers and LAV-III in Afghanistan 2003
Acrylic on canvas, 26 1/4 x 22 1/8 in (2006)

This is the first in a series of paintings honouring Canadian forces in Afghanistan.

Our son Sean was an infantryman with the Royal Canadian Regiment 1. His first tour of duty was in Afghanistan, in the Kabul area, from August 2003 to February 2004.

Sean was a C9 light machine gunner, on foot patrol in the hills and villages around Kabul, in a light armoured vehicle (LAV) such as the one shown. At that time, the majority of Canadian forces were stationed out of Kabul.

Moving from a life of 500-channel televison and a Macs Milk on the corner to Afghanistan produced a severe culture shock for many Canadian soldiers. Afghanistan is an ancient country and has been the clearing house of global political ambitions throughout written history.

Change will come to Afghanistan very slowly. Given the lessons of history, the odds are against establishing a democracy as we know it, despite the tough, muscular push by the International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). The machinations of local and global politics will do little to enrich the lives of Afghani citizens struggling to survive each day.

Please do not reproduce the images in this display.
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