Riga, Latvia – Dec 25, 2025 – as families across North America unwrap gifts and gather around fireplaces, roughly 2,000 Canadian Armed Forces members are spending Christmas far from home. Among them is Sergeant Scott Barbe, deployed with a NATO force in Latvia, a mission aimed at bolstering security on the allianceS eastern flank.
A Sudbury, Ontario native, sgt. Barbe is serving with the 2nd Battalion, Irish Regiment of Canada, as part of Operation REASSURANCE.
- Canada leads a multinational NATO brigade in Latvia, currently comprised of around 2,000 troops.
- Operation REASSURANCE is intended to deter potential Russian aggression and reinforce collective defense.
- The mission, extended to 2029, involves 14 allied nations and focuses on training and readiness.
- Sgt. Barbe, a father and stepfather, is experiencing his first overseas deployment during the holiday season.
Q: What is Operation REASSURANCE?
A: operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s largest overseas military deployment, leading a NATO multinational brigade in Latvia to deter Russian aggression and strengthen the alliance’s eastern defenses through training and collaboration.
“It is indeed a mixed bag,” Barbe said, describing his family’s reaction to his deployment. “We all have the understanding of why I serve. I am not only gaining this life experience for myself, but for them as well.”
This is Barbe’s first deployment away from his family, which includes his partner, their one-year-old daughter, and three teenage stepchildren, all residing in Sudbury. His parents, an older brother, and a sister also live in the area.
“It definately does” feel strange to be away during the holidays, he admitted. despite the distance, Barbe reports receiving strong support from his family, neighbors, and local schools.
“The days leading up to the deployment,it was ‘soon,’ and then when it finally hit,I think the realization that I would be gone that long became real. It was very sad, but there was a tremendous sense of pride when I did leave.”
The family prepared extensively before his departure, pre-purchasing gifts to ensure a semblance of normalcy during the holidays. Barbe anticipates bringing back souvenirs from Latvia to share with his loved ones upon his return.
Operation REASSURANCE is Canada’s largest overseas deployment, with plans to increase troop levels to 2,200 by 2026. The mission has been extended through 2029, demonstrating a long-term commitment to regional security.
Barbe arrived in Latvia on Nov. 26 as part of the initial deployment wave, assembling with his unit at Canadian Forces Base Petawawa before flying directly
