Canada has lost another soldier in Afghanistan in an IED attack.
Sapper Brian Collier dismounted from his vehicle Tuesday and was killed by an IED blast. He was 24 years old.
The attack happened near Nakhonay, about 15 kilometres west of Kandahar city.
Collier's death marks the 151st among Canadian military personnel in Afghanistan since Canada's mission began in 2002.
"Canadian soldiers are in a constant struggle with insurgents in places like Nakhonay and elsewhere in the Panjwaii district," said Brig.-Gen. Jonathan Vance, commander of Task Force Kandahar.
"We are working so diligently in the Panjwaii district so that we can bring about the sort of positive changes that have resulted from our operations over the past year in neighbouring Dand district. We seek to do the same in Panjwaii over the next year."
Collier had narrowly escaped death in a previous encounter with an IED earlier in this tour of duty.
Vance said Collier "fought hard" to overcome his injury so he could rejoin his comrades.
"Today, the entire task force -- both military and civilian -- is mourning our fallen comrade. Any Canadian who could have seen Brian in action would have been proud of him and proud of our country for the work being done with and for Afghans."
Collier was a member of 1 Combat Engineer Regiment based at CFB Edmonton. It was his first deployment to Afghanistan.
Born in Toronto and raised in Bradford, Ont., he was serving with the 1st Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment Battle Group.
Attacks using improvised explosive devices have been the single biggest cause of casualties among Canadian troops in Afghanistan.
Ninety-two of the 151 Canadian fatalities in Afghanistan were due to IEDs.
Two civilians, diplomat Glyn Berry and journalist Michelle Lang, have also been killed in Canada's mission to Afghanistan.
