In a world darkened by ethnic conflicts that tear nations apart, Canada stands as a model of how people of different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity, and mutual respect.
U.S. President Bill Clinton 

Travel through the eras of  history and the development of the various nations that make up Canada today.

After 9/11 and the identification of terrorist forces in Afghanistan, the United States quickly decided that either the Taliban government in Afghanistan would have to turn those terrorist over to the United States or face military action. There was a huge amount of sympathy and support for the US in the period following the attacks and Prime Minister jean Chretien made the decision that not only would Canada support the US in their actions in Afghanistan, but that Canadian forces would join a growing international coalition of forces that would be involved in military action.

Canadian forces serving with and in US units were authorized to participate in US actions preparing for an invasion of Afghanistan. The objectives of Canadian participation were to defend Canada's national interests, to support Canada's leadership role in world affairs, and to help Afghanistan rebuild after the upcoming military action.

On October 7th, Chretien announced operation Apollo which would be the Canadian commitment of Canadian forces until October 2003. Initially 40 JFF2 members (special anti-terrorist personnel) were dispatched in December of 2001 to help topple the Taliban government. By January of 2002 the PPCLI (Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry) members began to engage in combat in Afghanistan and in April 2002 the first Canadian military casualty occurred as a result of friendly fire.