Canadian Forces Pte. Tyler William Todd, 26, was killed around 7:30 a.m. Sunday by an improvised-explosive device blast near Belanday village in Dand district, eight kilometres southwest of Kandahar city.
He grew up helpful and hard working, lifting wagon-loads of hay at his family's dairy farm and aspiring to become a firefighter.
Just months ago, the 26-year-old from Bright, Ont. embarked on his next mission to help others - a military tour in Afghanistan.
That mission ended Sunday for Private Tyler William Todd when he was killed in a roadside blast, becoming Canada's 142nd casualty in Afghanistan.
Pte. Todd was on foot patrol in Belanday, a volatile region southwest of Kandahar City early Sunday morning when the powerful bomb went off. When the bomb detonated, he was on a routine patrol to learn more about the people in the village and what they would need from the troops, said commander Brigadier-General Daniel Ménard.
Pte. Todd was just weeks away from capping his six-month tour of duty and returning to the garrison of the 1st Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry, based in Edmonton.
He headed out there about a year and a half ago, said cousin Kris Rogers from his home in Cambridge, Ont. He grew up in the small town near Kitchener, just down the street from Pte. Todd, who was known for his easy humour and fondness for hockey. Pte. Todd leaves his parents, Beverly and Bryan and two sisters, Samantha, who is older and Jenna, who is younger. He also had a girlfriend in Edmonton, said friend Dave Murray.
Pte. Todd went to Huron Park High School in Woodstock, Ont., and later studied to become a firefighter. "He spent a lot of time with his friends, he developed a tight circle of friends," Mr. Rogers, 23, said.
He was always eager to help others, said Mr. Murray.
"If you ever needed help moving something or help doing something, he was there," Mr. Murray said. "He was more or less going [to Afghanistan]just to help the civilians."
Mr. Murray had been friends with Pte. Todd for 25 years - almost their entire lives.
"We got along like brothers. We did everything together, he'd do anything for me, I'd do anything for him," he said. The 26-year-old forklift driver said he used to help Pte. Todd with the haying at the dairy farm and milking the cows. They liked to ride their dirt bikes through the fields and back roads.
They had also talked about the dangers he'd face in Kandahar. He saw his friend on each of his visits home, about four or five a year. Over beers at each other's family homes, all he wanted to talk about was the experiences he was having as part of the troops.
"He loved it," Mr. Murray said. "In my eyes, he's a hero."
On the base in Kandahar, Pte. Todd was celebrated for his warm nature.
"Tyler was a practical joker; he would often hide rocks and candies in the other soldier's bed spaces," Gen. Ménard said. "He never allowed the small things to get to him and was often the rock that other soldiers could depend on."
Minister of National Defence Peter MacKay expressed his condolences in a statement.
"Pte. Todd was a professional, dedicated Canadian soldier who served valiantly alongside his comrades to help build a better and brighter future for Afghans," he said.
The tragedy comes as the United States has inserted more forces into the area and is pressuring Canada to remain there with them. Canada has stuck with its proposed pull-out date of July, 2011.
That particular area of Afghanistan has become increasingly dangerous in recent months.
Sunday's attack happened in Dand district, where journalist Michelle Lang and four Canadian soldiers were killed on Dec. 30, 2009. In January, 44-year-old Sergeant John Faught was killed by a roadside bomb in nearby Nakhoney.
Just last month, Canada's military in Afghanistan aided the Afghan National Army's three-day sweep of small towns and villages southwest of Belanday in Panjwai district. It captured only two prisoners and no weapons. Villagers, meanwhile, said they'd done their part to chase the Taliban from their community.
With reports from The Canadian Press
Editor's Note: An earlier version of this online story, as well as the newspaper version, incorrectly stated that Kris Rogers and not Dave Murray told The Globe and Mail that Pte. Todd had a girlfriend in Edmonton. This online version has been corrected.