Statement made on 08 June 2010 by Senator Marie-P. Poulin (Charette)
Hon. Marie-P. Poulin:
Honourable senators, yesterday Sergeant Martin Goudreault became the 147th Canadian soldier to die in Afghanistan. He was originally from Sudbury.
As a senator representing Northern Ontario, I would like to offer to his parents, Mr. and Ms. Aurèle Goudreault, my sincere condolences. He was only 35 years old and a member of the Combat Engineer Regiment of Edmonton.
With your leave, I will read what his parents said about him today:
We are both incredibly proud of Martin; he was doing what he truly wanted to do . . . be in the army. He joined the engineers because it was a challenge and he was always challenging himself. At one point in his career, he completed the combat diver course because it was the hardest course he could do at that time. His love of boating grew and whenever he was on the water, he was in his element. One time he travelled down to the United States to certify as a lifeguard so that the particular community could have a trained lifeguard and kids would be able to swim. He just loved people.
Martin was easy going; he never argued, he was funny and he always had so much energy. He was a joker who liked to kid around and he never sweated the small stuff. When it came to his job, his men always came first. His priority was looking after his troops and he was easy to talk to.
He was never scared of saying what was on his mind. When he went on his first tour to Afghanistan, he was really gung-ho to go over there and do his part. After he went over there and saw the kids, he realized he needed to go back and make a difference. And he knew that he was making a difference.
May Martin Goudreault rest in peace. May his parents and family be surrounded by kindness in this time of grief.