Military funeral for Corporal Jonathan Couturier

VALCARTIER GARRISON, QC, Sept. 29 /CNW Telbec/ - The military funeral for Corporal Jonathan Couturier , deceased on September 17, 2009 , in Afghanistan , will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. , in Sainte-Jeanne d'Arc Chapel located on the Valcartier Garrison.

    
    VISITATION

    When:     Wednesday, September 30, 2009 - From 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and
              7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Thursday, October 1, from
              9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. (open to public)
    Where:    Lépine-Cloutier Funeral Home, located at 9255, l'Ormière Blvd,
              in Quebec
    

Citizens who wish to honour Corporal Couturier 's memory are welcome to join the funeral procession which will travel successively on l'Ormière and l'Auvergne Boul., and Highway 573 to Valcartier Garrison' main gate. The procession should leave Lépine-Cloutier Funeral Home around 10:15 a.m.

Corporal Jonathan Couturier died on September 17, 2009 , due to the explosion of an improvised explosive device in Afghanistan . Born in Loretteville, in the Quebec City region, Corporal Couturier joined the Canadian Forces on March 29, 2006 . At the age of 23, Jonathan was a member of 2 Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment based in Valcartier. Dispatched on his first tour, he left for Afghanistan in April 2009 with 2 Battalion, Royal 22e Régiment Battle Group.

Note: After having completed 36 months of active duty with the Canadian Forces, Jonathan Couturier was eligible for a promotion from the rank of "Private" to "Corporal". Even though promotion procedures were underway, Corporal Couturier had not received his new rank at the time of his death and therefore had to be promoted posthumously.

Media representatives who wish to be present are asked to inform 5 CMBG Public Affairs personnel at one of the numbers bellow. All must be present at Valcartier Garrison's main gate at 10:15 a.m. at the latest and latecomers will be denied access.

Members of Corporal Couturier 's family want to go through their mourning in privacy. They therefore wish that media representatives respect their choice of not according interviews during the funeral.

For further information: Captain Lyne Poirier, Public Affairs Officer 5 CMBG, [phone] extension 4688, Pager: [phone]