Michelle Lang, SFU, Peak alumna killed in Afghanistan

by Sam on January 4, 2010

On Wednesday, December 30, Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang and four Canadian soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device destroyed the armoured vehicle they were traveling in near Kandahar.
Last Sunday afternoon, the bodies of Lang and the four soldiers killed arrived at the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario. A repatriation ceremony was performed on the five bodies at the base.
Repatriation ceremonies are normally reserved for military personnel, however, Canadian Forces Repatriation Officer Captain Wayne Johnston claimed an exception was made in Lang and the other soldiers’ honour. “She was in Afghanistan obviously doing the job she loved. . . . She died with soldiers telling the story about soldiers and the good work they are doing,” concluded Johnston. Lang is the first civilian to be repatriated.
Lang originally arrived in Afghanistan on December 11, 2009 and was scheduled to leave on January 22, 2010. She was covering the war for the Canwest News Service, and was assigned to tell the story of the Canadian experience in Afghanistan. Lang was travelling with a provincial reconstruction team when the attack occurred.
Originally from Vancouver, Lang graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While attending SFU, Lang also wrote for the news section of The Peak from 1996-1997 covering campus events and student politics.
After graduating from SFU, Lang worked as an intern at the Prince George Free Press. She later moved on to reporting jobs in Regina and Moose Jaw before being hired by the Calgary Herald in 2002. In May 2008, Lang’s journalistic abilities earned her the prestigious National Newspaper award for her coverage of health care and medicine issues in Alberta.
In addition to writing for the Canwest News Service while in Afghanistan, Lang frequently blogged about life in the Kandahar AirField, a base where Canadian troops are stationed. The last post on her blog entitled, “Afghanistan Dispatches,” was about a hair stylist from New Brunswick hired by the Canadian Forces to be a combat barber in Afghanistan.
In an article for The Vancouver Observer, fellow SFU alumna Stacey Robinsmith described Lang as someone who had a strong work ethic and “stood her ground.”
Lang is the 17th journalist to be killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2001. To date, 138 Canadian troops have lost their lives in Afghanistan.

On Wednesday, December 30, Calgary Herald journalist Michelle Lang and four Canadian soldiers were killed when an improvised explosive device destroyed the armoured vehicle they were traveling in near Kandahar.

Last Sunday afternoon, the bodies of Lang and the four soldiers killed arrived at the Canadian Forces Base in Trenton, Ontario. A repatriation ceremony was performed on the five bodies at the base.

Repatriation ceremonies are normally reserved for military personnel, however, Canadian Forces Repatriation Officer Captain Wayne Johnston stated that an exception was made in Lang and the other soldiers’ honour. “She was in Afghanistan obviously doing the job she loved. . . . She died with soldiers telling the story about soldiers and the good work they are doing,” concluded Johnston. Lang is the first civilian to be repatriated.

Lang originally arrived in Afghanistan on December 11, 2009 and was scheduled to leave on January 22, 2010. She was covering the war for the Canwest News Service, and was assigned to tell the story of the Canadian experience in Afghanistan. Lang was travelling with a provincial reconstruction team when the attack occurred.

Originally from Vancouver, Lang graduated from Simon Fraser University with a Bachelor of Arts in English. While attending SFU, Lang also wrote for the news section of The Peak from 1996-1997 covering campus events and student politics.

After graduating from SFU, Lang worked as an intern at the Prince George Free Press. She later moved on to reporting jobs in Regina and Moose Jaw before being hired by the Calgary Herald in 2002. In May 2008, Lang’s journalistic abilities earned her the prestigious National Newspaper award for her coverage of health care and medicine issues in Alberta.

In addition to writing for the Canwest News Service while in Afghanistan, Lang frequently blogged about life in the Kandahar AirField, a base where Canadian troops are stationed. The last post on her blog entitled, “Afghanistan Dispatches,” was about a hair stylist from New Brunswick hired by the Canadian Forces to be a combat barber in Afghanistan.

In an article for The Vancouver Observer, fellow SFU alumnus Stacey Robinsmith described Lang as someone who had a strong work ethic and “stood her ground.”

Lang is the 17th journalist to be killed in Afghanistan since the mission began in 2001. To date, 138 Canadian troops have lost their lives in Afghanistan.

Originally appeared in the January 4 2010 issue of The Peak.

2 comments

Thank you for sharing this with your audience. Michelle will always be in my thoughts and prayers. I am recently the papa of twin girls and as a result I believe I better understand the profound and deep sadness her parents and her fiance must feel.

I do have to admit that I have been known to be a bit of a wild and crazy guy at times and while Michelle and I were in classes at SFU I do believe I made her laugh a time or two. The good times and the laughter are the memories I choose to keep and cherish from our time together.

We will always miss you Michelle.

by Stacey Robinsmith on January 4, 2010 at 7:47 pm #

nice post. thanks.

by pharmacy technician on January 7, 2010 at 3:27 am #

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