Media Advisory

Deployment of DART Main Body Personnel

MA-05.058 - October 15, 2005

OTTAWA – Media are invited to attend the departure of the CF Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) main body, which will deploy to Pakistan as part of the Government of Canada's contribution to relief efforts following the earthquake that struck South Asia on Oct. 8, 2005. The main body, consisting of about 150 CF personnel, will depart on a CF CC-150 Polaris Airbus.

• Where: 8 Wing Trenton, Ont., Passenger terminal.

• When: The aircraft is scheduled to depart Sunday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m (ET). Media should arrive at 4:30 p.m. in order to conduct interviews prior to departure.

The Minister of International Cooperation, Aileen Carroll, and Lieutenant-General Marc Dumais, the Deputy Chief of the Defence Staff, will be in attendance for the departure and will both be available to speak to the media at approximately 5 p.m.

DART personnel will travel to Islamabad, Pakistan, and then move to their area of responsibility in northern Pakistan. This DART deployment is known as Operation PLATEAU.

Media interested in attending should confirm timings with the 8 Wing Public Affairs Officer as changes to the timings may occur.

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NOTE TO THE EDITOR: Captain Nicole Meszaros, 8 Wing Public Affairs Officer, is the point of contact for this media opportunity. She can be reached at the following phone numbers:

(613) 392-2811 ext 2041, or by cell at (613) 391-8805.

Canadian Forces imagery can be found at www.combatcamera.forces.gc.ca or by calling the Media Liaison Office at (613) 996-2353/2354.

For more information on the DART please visit: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Newsroom/view_news_e.asp?id=301

For more information on the Operation PLATEAU, please visit: http://www.forces.gc.ca/site/Operations/Plateau/index_e.asp