"BEYOND THE CALL OF DUTY"

Editor’s Note: Silvia Pecota is an award-winning photo-journalist whose work has taken her around the globe. Just recently, she was given the privilege
as part of the CFAP (Canadian Forces Artist Program)
of travelling with our Canadian military to photograph and document their peacekeeping experiences in Haiti.

OPERATION HALO
SILVIA PECOTA
Special to the Sun
(Toronto Sun, May 2004)

Since March Haiti has seen more than 500 Canadians soldiers deployed to Port-au-Prince, as part of Canada’s contribution to the Multinational Interim Force. The troops will be returning to Canada in the next few weeks, with the last expected by the end of August.

Haiti is an improverished country with a long history from political unrest, extreme poverty to the devastation caused by the recent flood that killed at least 1,000 people.

It’s a mission ,titled (appropriately) Operation Halo, has a mandate to help bring peace and stability to this ravaged country.

One of the biggest accomplishments made by the presence of our troops evident when they ran brutal gangs and their leaders out of town. By patrolling the streets day and night, the presence of the soldiers added a sense of security for the locals and a deterrent to drug trafficking. Apart from assisting the Haitian Police and Coast Guard to maintain law and order, the Canadian Forces has been offering humanitarian support by the delivery of food and water, helping orphanages, provide health care and offering assistance in the educational system.

But the troops, who are primarily from 2RCR (The Royal Canadian Regiment, Gagetown, New Brunswick) have gone beyond the call of duty by donating their own time and energy to improving the conditions of many neglected orphanages.

What these soldiers witnessed and felt, I attempted to capture on my lenses.
From observing the day to day misery of living in one of the most impoverished countries in the world to seeing the spontaneous laughter of little children being treated to acts of kindess we take for granted back home.

At the three orphanages I visited, evidence of what these soldiers were doing was as plain as the red maple leaf that adorned walls, beds, frisbies and balls.
Sergeant Major Don Tupper, from Picton, Nova Scotia, and his group of volunteers have helped a few of these abandoned orphanages by cleaning up and painting the quarters as well as providing food.
They also raised money to buy beds, bikes, soccer balls and even cement to keep a soccer field from flooding.
“These children were sleeping on springs with no mattresses.,” said Tupper. “We repaired everything.”
Efforts were also made to load up locals with Canadian donations from such companies as International Clothiers, as well as toys, sports equipment and school supplies given to me by friends back home. Upon my arrival, the troops distributed the supplies to where they were needed most.
One of the most moving contributions were the donations of hockey sticks, bags and balls from The Toronto Road Runners and the Canada Deaflympic Hockey Team. It was a little piece of Canada imported to this impoverished country. Tupper took immediate steps to bring the equipment to the Port-au-Prince Sports Centre, where the soldiers volunteered their time to teach the enthusiastic participants the finer points of ball hockey!

I recall one particularly poignant moment when Sergeant Major Tupper arrived at one of these orphanages. Bearing a 6'4" frame, this Sergeant Major possesses an air of authority that commands respect . But as he passed through rusted gates of a courtyard, he was immediately spotted by the children. There was a spontaneous assault as the children surround the Sergeant Major, climbing onto his knees and tugging at his shirt. The giant sank down to their level and pulled out a purple plastic bottle. All eyes were intrigued, analyzing his next move. The Sergeant Major removed a looped, soapy stick. As he blew through it, a multitude of bubbles magically appeared. The empty cement playground became filled with floating bubbles, jumping children and the smiles of on-lookers who knew that as temporary as these bubbles may have been, they were offering a little bit of joy to these children of Haiti.