Holiday Messages Part 1

[Nfld Sapper]

CDS holiday message

I would like to offer my best wishes for the holiday season to all of our sailors, soldiers, airmen, airwomen and civilian employees of the Department of National Defence.

During my first months as Chief of the Defence Staff, I have had the privilege of meeting with many of you, in theatre and here in Canada, to see firsthand the wonderful work you are doing. In all cases, I left inspired. These visits have reinforced what I already knew, that you are the most professional, dedicated and best-trained personnel in the world. You are doing a terrific job!

This season, during which family, peace, and goodwill are promoted, only reinforces the importance of our mission and service to Canada. You can be proud of your accomplishments, for you are making an incredible difference in the lives of others.

To those here at home – I hope you will take every opportunity to rejuvenate and to enjoy your time with your loved ones, of whom we ask so much throughout the year. To those of you who are deployed, know that you will draw your strength from your families, friends, comrades and the sense of duty to each other that you share. Thank you for your sacrifices, and the sacrifices of your families, to secure Canada and all Canadians.

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2009. God bless!

General Walt Natynczyk,
Chief of the Defence Staff

Minister’s Christmas message


In the spirit of the season, I would like to take this opportunity to extend my warmest greetings to all Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence personnel and their families. I would especially like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and send season’s greetings to those of you spending the holidays apart from your loved ones. You and your families are very much in our thoughts.

The holidays are a time to reflect on the past year and look to the future. We have lost brave CF personnel in 2008, and I would like to take this opportunity to recognize their sacrifice. Canada mourns the loss of each and every one of them.

As heart-rending as these losses are, we cannot be deterred from our work with the Government and the people of Afghanistan. Our goal is clear – leave Afghans with a country that is better governed, more peaceful and more secure. Canada, along with our international partners, will continue to contribute to this United Nations-mandated mission to work with the Afghan government to ensure improvement in the lives of citizens living in Kandahar province between now and 2011.

As Minister of National Defence, I have continually been impressed by your professionalism, dedication and generous service. The impact of your work is significant, and recognized both by our nation and our allies.

Wherever you are right now, whether in Afghanistan, Haiti, Africa, the Middle East or at home in Canada, patrolling our oceans or monitoring our skies, always remember that you are doing important work and changing the lives of people around the world. This holiday season, I would like to thank you and wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Peter MacKay,
Minister of National Defence

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Season’s Greetings from the Chief of the Maritime Staff

As 2008 draws to a close and we begin to celebrate the holiday season, I would like to take a moment to reflect on the remarkable accomplishments we have made over the past year. It has been an exceptionally busy 12 months, with ships under way every day of the year. We have taken on the challenges of missions both at home and abroad, and met them all. I am truly impressed every day by the ability of our Maritime Command team— sailors, airmen, airwomen, soldiers and civil servants— in ships at sea and support roles ashore, to ensure that our Navy continues to be second to none in skill, commitment, enthusiasm and, most importantly, effect.

As we gather with our friends and families to rejoice in the season, we can take pride in knowing that we have helped less fortunate people in other parts of the world. From August to October, Ville de Québec successfully escorted ships under World Food Programme charter in the safe delivery of over 36 200 tonnes of food– enough to feed about 400 000 people for six months. And in Haiti, after several hurricanes laid waste to the southern coast, St. John’s loaded a total of 547 tonnes of humanitarian aid supplies and made deliveries to nine communities. The rapid response of our ships to these humanitarian challenges was only possible thanks to our Navy being forward-deployed into regions of instability throughout the year.

We have also helped to make the world a safer place. Charlottetown began 2008 in the Arabian Sea on Operation ALTAIR Roto 3, demonstrating Canada’s continuing commitment to international security and the campaign against terrorism. In late spring, Iroquois, Calgary and Protecteur, one of Canada’s largest naval contributions to building maritime security in a troubled region, joined the ships of Combined Task Force 150 in the region and then took Canadian command of the Force. And Ville de Québec, expected to arrive home just before Christmas, ended the year deployed with Standing NATO Maritime Group 1 as a part of the NATO Response Force.

These major overseas deployments, along with our continued successful participation in exercises such as WESTPLOY, RIMPAC and PANAMAX, are part of a broader pattern of forward operations designed to contribute to security in regions of strategic interest to Canada.

No matter where you are serving, be at it ashore in Afghanistan, here at home on fisheries patrols and counter-narcotics operations, on complex exercises in co-operation with other government departments and our allies, or anywhere else you may serve, you all continue to make your mark, proving time and time again that our presence matters – every day.

As you prepare for your holiday celebrations, I ask that you remember those who will be away from family and friends during this special season, whether deployed on international missions or on duty here at home. I also ask that you particularly remember those families that have endured with dignity the loss of loved ones in the service of our nation.

The next year is certain to bring us new challenges. I hope you enjoy your well-deserved break, and wish you all a safe and happy holiday season.

VAdm Drew Robertson

Christmas Greetings 2008

Another holiday season is upon us. It is a time to reflect on the year that is drawing to a close, ponder the lessons we have learned and count the blessings that we enjoy.

It is also a time to extend best wishes to our families and friends. I would like to send all of you in our Air Force family— military personnel, civilian employees and your families—the warmest of greetings and best wishes for Christmas and the holiday season, and for a safe and prosperous New Year.

It has been another outstanding year for the Air Force and the Canadian Forces. Once again, Canadians have seen the dedication of the men and women of the Air Force.

But before I look at the events of this past year, I would like to touch on some of the significant events that have happened on December 25th throughout our history.

For instance, in 1535 Jacques Cartier and his crew celebrated Canada’s first recorded Christmas at Stadacona, Québec. More than 300 years later, in 1855, soldiers in Kingston, Ontario played one of Canada’s first hockey games, using sticks and lacrosse balls. And in 1914, German and Allied troops along the Western Front in Europe laid down their arms and started singing Christmas carols. They shook hands with their enemies, swapped cigarettes, and even played soccer.

The Christmas truce lasted only a short time, which serves to illustrate that we can’t take national security and defence for granted. They couldn’t take it for granted in the trenches in 1914 and we can’t take it for granted now. It’s likely we won’t be able to take it for granted in the future.

It’s you, the men and women of our Air Force, who help deliver that security and defence capability, day in and day out, here at home and around the world. As your Commander, I am extremely grateful for and proud of your enthusiasm, your dedicated service and your unparalleled professionalism. You may also rest assured that your work is deeply appreciated by Canadians, by your colleagues throughout the Canadian Forces and Department of National Defence and by our allies.

As we in the Air Force look back at the past year, we have many things to be thankful for and proud of. We’ve signed a contract to purchase Chinook helicopters and leased a new fleet of unmanned aerial vehicles for service in Afghanistan. We’ve signed a contract to acquire new Hercules tactical airlifters, and we now have all four of our magnificent Globemaster strategic airlifters. We’re also making sure our training systems and personnel policies are dedicated to supporting the Air Force, your careers and your families.

Next year looks equally promising.

Beginning in February, we’ll celebrate the Canadian Centennial of Flight, and deploy our first Chinook helicopter crews— along with eight Griffon helicopters as escorts—to Afghanistan. We’ll put our new unmanned aerial vehicles into the air over Afghanistan, and our major equipment programs will advance even further.

None of this would be possible without you. Equally important, none of this would be possible without the support of your families who stand by you.

Therefore, I have a Christmas wish for you. If you can, enjoy your holidays with your families and loved ones: rest, relax, and recharge. If you are on duty near your homes or far away, be assured that you are in the hearts and thoughts of those who love you, and they are eagerly awaiting your safe return.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and best wishes for 2009.

LGen Angus Watt

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Statement by Prime Minister Stephen Harper
23 December 2008
Ottawa, Ontario

 
Prime Minister Stephen Harper issued the following statement today:

“The Christmas season is a time when we can pause and be thankful for the many blessings in our lives. This is a season for family and friends. A season when we look back with fond memories of the year just completed while looking forward with optimism to the year ahead.

“In a world that is often troubled, we can all be thankful that we live in a country like Canada.

“As Canadians we can be proud to live in a society where we can celebrate our tremendous diversity while, at the same time, always taking pride in our country’s unique heritage.

“As Canadians we are fortunate to live in a place where your success is measured not by birth, but instead by your imagination, ingenuity and willingness to work hard.

“As Canadians we are blessed to live in a democratic country where we resolve our differences peacefully, can enjoy freedom of our religion, expression and beliefs, and always count on protection from a common rule of law.

“Christmas is also a time when we should remember to lend a hand to those in need. So much of what we are thankful for depends on the work of volunteers, and I want to extend my deepest gratitude for everyone who gets involved in their community and lends their time and energy to helping others.

“Canadians look out for each other. And, whatever challenges lie on the road ahead, we will continue to look out for one another. For right now, I would invite Canadians to use the holidays as an opportunity to say ‘thank you’ to the brave men and women of the Canadian Forces who look out for the rest of us as they serve our country in Afghanistan and elsewhere. I also ask that Canadians, whenever possible, do what they can to support military families who must also sacrifice as they spend the holidays apart from their loved ones.

“And finally, on a personal note, on behalf of Laureen, Ben, Rachel and the entire Harper family, I want to wish Canadians a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and a very Happy New Year.”

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Christmas Message from HM Queen Elizabeth II

 

[X-mo-1979]

Beautiful speech from the throne.She really hit the nail on the head.