A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan was designed by local artists Donna Pascoe and Peter Turrell. They were contacted by Valerie McGrady, the mother of Corporal Matthew McCully who was killed by a roadside bomb on May 25, 2007. Matthew inspired everyone to create a statue depicting a soldier's bravery and compassion. Donna and Peter researched and met with soldiers that served in Afghanistan to talk about their experiences. Their ideas were shared and they passed around photos of proposed ideas, receiving input from a number of soldiers who guided them toward the final piece.
Donna borrowed a combat uniform for authenticity when creating the model for A Canadian Soldier in Afghanistan. She tried to imagine the multitude of thoughts and feelings both soldiers and citizens must have struggled with every day. Issues of duty, trust and fear. Donna chose to show a compassionate human side reflected in the heart-felt exchange between two Afghan children and the kind soldier kneeling in front of them.
The Canadian soldier, in full combat gear, shows a level of authority. Kneeling demonstrates courtesy and respect, the soft power of the soldier meeting eye to eye with the children captures a sensitive moment. The kindness in the soldiers face shows his compassion for the children.
Afghan children offer the gift of a swallowtail butterfly to the soldier as an act of trust and hope of peace. Common cultural depiction often use swallowtail butterflies to represent the grace and free nature of the ineffable human soul. Other concepts associated with swallowtail butterflies are hope, endurance, change, and life. A butterfly represents rebirth and new beginnings brought about by change, transformation, purity and wisdom. Offering of the butterfly by the children indicates they value these gifts and want to share them with the soldier. The children represent the future, the innocence of life, purity of childhood and our hopes for world peace, at large.
The statue is mounted in the center of a depiction of the Victoria Cross which was designed by Peter. A cross beneath the statue is representational of the Victoria Cross being silently awarded in recognition of all those that gave their lives, limbs and spirits in Afghanistan. The Victoria Cross is the highest decoration a soldier can receive.
Other military memorials in Bravery Park include: Memorial Stone, Playground, “Remember Always” Art Installation, Canadian Armed Forces Bench and Lest We Forget Bench.
