View larger image Her Excellency the Right Honourable MichaŽlle Jean, Governor General of Canada and Commander In Chief of the Canadian Forces rides in the Observer seat of the C130 Hercules during her flight from Camp Mirage to Kabul. (image: DND)
View larger image Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean meets with Canada's military women Thursday night during a visit to the NATO base in Kandahar, Afghanistan. (CP / John Cotter) View larger image Afghan President Hamid Karzai shows the way to Governor General Michaelle Jean at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday. (AP / Shah Marai) View larger image Afghan President Hamid Karzai and Governor General Michaelle Jean inspect a guard of honour before their meeting at the Presidential Palace in Kabul, Afghanistan on Thursday. (AP / Shah Marai)
Jean pays tribute to female troops in Afghanistan
CTV.ca News Staff
To help mark International Women's Day, Gov. Gen. Michaelle Jean paid homage to Canada's female military presence in Afghanistan on Thursday.
Jean reiterated to troops the importance of telling their stories in order to put a human face on the war.
"The more we do that, the more people will understand the value of your mission here, and how important it is, every action you are taking here at great risk,'' she said.
The commander-in-chief told the packed crowd at Canada House -- a place where soldiers go to relax while on duty -- how proud she was of their continuing efforts.
After her speech, Jean jokingly called on male troops to get down on their knees and honour their female comrades.
The men urged the women soldiers in attendance to join Jean at the front of the room for a photo opportunity. The soldiers jumped and jostled at the chance to share a smile with their commander-in-chief.
"This just shows that women are part of the Canadian Forces and that we are here doing the same job as the men,'' Master Warrant Officer Mary-Ann Barnes of Barrie, Ont. said.
She went on to say that Jean's comments gave her a much needed lift, "It is just absolutely amazing to have her here. To recognize us and to see us. It is absolutely incredible,'' Barnes said.
The men in the room also welcomed the recognition from the Governor General.
"It shows support and the morale comes up. She can go back and tell the Canadian people that the guys and gals over here are doing a good job,'' Cpl. Dean Cairns of Clavet, Sask., said.
Brig-Gen. Tim Grant, commander of Task Force Afghanistan, said Jean's visit is significant for soldiers, most of who have been away from family and friends for six months.
"Her recognition is important to them, he said. "The significance is tremendously huge.''
"For her to take the time out of her very busy schedule and come this far to see the folks in this operation is almost beyond words,'' Grant said.
Jean's government jet landed in the city just hours after Afghan militants attacked two Canadian convoys. There were no casualties among Canadian or coalition troops, but Afghan civilians were injured in the explosions.
Jean has twice been denied permission to visit Afghanistan because of security concerns.
Earlier in the day, Jean met with Afghan President Hamid Karzai.
She also toured a women's school funded by the Canadian International Development Agency and met with Canadian soldiers and diplomats.
"Canada is proud to be among the 37 countries restoring stability and supporting reconstruction efforts,'' Jean said in a statement.
"The work that has been accomplished in so little time is promising and we are proud to support the Afghani people on this difficult, sometimes painful, journey. On behalf of all Canadians, I wish the Afghani people peace, prosperity and happiness."
Jean also met with leading Afghan women to stress the need for reform on women's issues in the country.
"She said there was no better place to emphasize and highlight the issue than by coming here to Afghanistan and speaking to the women of Afghanistan about what progress can be made in this country," said CTV's Tom Clark in Afghanistan.
Amnesty International has called the violence against women and girls in Afghanistan a pervasive issue.
"The women of Afghanistan may face the most unbearable conditions, but they never stop fighting for survival. Of course, we, the rest of the women around the world, took too long to hear the cries of our Afghani sisters, but I am here to tell them that they are no longer alone. And neither are the people of Afghanistan," said Jean.
The visit coincides with Operation Achilles, the alliance's largest-ever offensive in Afghanistan.
Jean's visit comes two days after a Canadian reserve soldier was killed in a non-combat shooting in his tent at the Kandahar air field.
With files from The Canadian Press
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean.
Today, Governor General of Canada Michaëlle Jean issued a statement regarding International Women's Day. The day was first designated unofficially by some in the United States in 1909, to acknowledge the economic, political and social achievements of women. In 1975, during International Women's Year, the United Nations gave official sanction to the day, and began sponsoring events.