Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard

Captain Nichola Kathleen Sarah Goddard, MSM

First Female Canadian Soldier Killed in Combat

Born: May 2, 1980 — Madang, Papua New Guinea
Died: May 17, 2006 — Panjwaye District, Kandahar Province, Afghanistan

🪖 Early Life & Military Career

Captain Nichola Goddard was born in Madang, Papua New Guinea, to Canadian parents who were teaching abroad. Raised in Calgary, Alberta, she joined the Canadian Forces under the Regular Officer Training Plan in June 1998. She attended the Royal Military College of Canada, graduating in 2002 with an honours degree in English and fully bilingual. Trained as an artillery officer, she was posted to the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Shilo, Manitoba. Her early years in the armed forces involved fighting wildfires and avalanche control in British Columbia. She was later promoted to captain.

🌍 Deployment & Ultimate Sacrifice

In February 2006, Captain Goddard deployed to Afghanistan as part of Operation ARCHER, serving with the 1st Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry Battle Group. On May 17, 2006, during a firefight in the Panjwaye District of Kandahar Province, she was struck by shrapnel from a rocket-propelled grenade attack by Taliban forces. Her death marked a historic and somber moment in Canadian military history, highlighting the evolving roles of women in combat and the risks taken by Canadian peacekeepers and soldiers abroad.

🎖️ Honours & Awards

Captain Goddard received several honours and decorations during her military career and posthumously:

• Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) — for exceptional leadership and gallantry during her service in Afghanistan.

• Sacrifice Medal — awarded posthumously to members of the Canadian Forces who die or are wounded as a result of hostile action. 

• General Campaign Star — for her combat deployment under Operation Athena. 

🏛️ Legacy & Memorials

Captain Goddard's legacy continues through various memorials and initiatives:

• Captain Nichola Goddard School — a middle school in Calgary, Alberta, named in her honour.

• Nichola Goddard Park — a park in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, dedicated to her memory.

• Captain Nichola Goddard Fund — provides national funding to directly benefit community programs that support servicewomen, veteran women, and their families.

• Captain Nichola Goddard Leadership Award — established to recognize and honour young Canadian innovators and trailblazers in the field of national security and defence. 

• Memorials — her name is etched on the Memorial Arch at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ontario