A St. Albert resident has taken over as Canadian deputy commander of a busy region in war-torn southern Afghanistan.
Brig.-Gen. Andre Corbould is the new deputy commander of Regional Command South, an area that covers the provinces of Kandahar, Daikundi, Uruzgan and Zabul. The area was previously under British control but is now led by the American 10th Mountain Division.
Corbould says Gen. James L. Terry, commander of 10th Mountain, was looking for a Canadian to fill the deputy commander role and asked if he was interested in the position.
"Needless to say, it did," Corbould says.
This is Corbould's third stint in Afghanistan, having deployed in 2006 with Combined Forces Afghanistan and in 2003 with Foreign Affairs, when he helped sort out the Canadian embassy.
St. Albert home
Growing up in a military family — his grandfather served and both his father and brother were members of the Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry — Corbould says he's used to constantly moving around. Originally from Bella Coola, B.C. where his family ran a fishing lodge, he now calls St. Albert home.
"St. Albert is a really great community as a whole. It's very multicultural and represents a small microcosm of Canada," says Corbould, who was posted to the St. Albert area from 1996 to 1999 with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment as a squadron commander. After a four-year absence he returned to take command of the same regiment in 2003.
Part of St. Albert's appeal is the outdoor lifestyle opportunities, he says.
"We are an outdoors-type family so its excellent parks and trail systems get frequently used by the whole family. My sons both deliver the Gazette in our neighbourhood. The acceptance of the military here is excellent."
Corbould credits Edmonton, St. Albert and the surrounding communities for the outstanding support residents show troops — the best in all of Canada, he says.
"I would really like to thank all of the people in this community for standing behind the troops. The support we are given is second to none and it makes a difference to us especially when we are away from our families doing our job, so thank you."
David Bowering is a St. Albert-based photographer currently embedded with the Canadian Forces in Afghanistan.
