“Love Always, nichola”
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The tone and title of Keira’s composition drew inspiration from an email Nichola sent to her parents while in Afghanistan. Signed Love Always, Nichola, the letter conveys a deep awareness of why service matters and illuminates a profound generosity of spirit. Keira’s work is a meditation on the feelings Nichola expressed about her time overseas and muses on the concept of purpose. Love Always, Nichola is Keira’s beautifully luminous tribute to Nichola, exploring what it means to be present, follow our heart, and embrace the world.
Captain nichola goddard
Excerpts extracted with permission from Nichola Goddard Foundation
Born to Canadian and British teachers who met while working in Papua New Guinea, Nichola was born in Madang on May 2, 1980. She spent the first three and a half years living in a rural village on the Trobriand Islands.
At the end of January 1984, Nichola and her family returned to Canada and briefly stayed with family in Sault Ste Marie before moving to Black Lake, Saskatchewan, a fly-in Dene community about 60 kms south of the Northwest Territories.
In the fall of 1997, Nichola was in grade 12 and the military did a presentation at her high school in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. She became enamored with the possibilities. “Free education and a job for five years after graduation,” said Nichola one night after dinner.
The day after Nichola’s graduation, she flew to Montreal and begin Basic Officers Training Course (BOTC) at the Saint-Jean Garrison in St. Jean-sur-Richelieu before completing four years at the Royal Military College.
Nichola graduated from RMC with an honours degree in English, fully bilingual, and trained as an artillery officer. She was posted to the 1st Regiment Royal Canadian Horse Artillery in Shilo, Manitoba. In Shilo she lived in married quarters on the base with her husband, Jason, 2 dogs, and 2 cats.
Nichola’s training continued as she took courses and advanced from 2nd Lieutenant, to Lieutenant, and then Captain. Soon after, Nichola was sent to CFB Wainright to train for the Afghan mission.
Nichola arrived in Afghanistan in January 2006 as a forward observation officer. On May 17, 2006, Nichola was killed during a firefight in the Panjwaye District that was was part of a joint two-day operation with Canadian and Afghan troops.
As troops were moving into a mosque to capture 15 alleged Taliban members, several dozen hidden militants began firing from neighbouring houses. As a crew commander, Nichola was standing half-exposed in her LAV III, which was hit by two rocket-propelled grenades early in the battle. The battle ended after approximately 45 minutes, shortly after an American B-1 Lancer dropped a 225kg bomb.
The two-day operation saw Nichola, an Afghan National Army soldier, and 40 Taliban killed, as well as approximately 20 Taliban captured.
Nichola was posthumously awarded the Meritorious Service Medal (MSM) on October 27, 2006, and her husband Jason became the first widower to receive the Memorial Cross (also known as the Silver Cross)
Excerpts extracted with permission from Nichola Goddard Foundation
A Ninebark Shrub has been selected to honour
Captain Nichola Goddard
keira
Keira’s achievements within Music for Veterans Project have been extensive. In 2023, Keira was selected to perform an original composition inspired by Sgt (Ret’d) Wendy Jocko at a historic event to honour Indigenous warriors at Canadian Parliament in Ottawa. Her composition titled Ankidokwe drew inspiration from Wendy’s time spent in Croatia and Bosnia during the early 1990's. In attendance was much of the Ottawa diplomatic core, including embassy ambassadors, Commonwealth consulates, the Chief of the Defence Staff, President of the NATO Canada Association, and Indigenous elders. Keira has also composed for the event Honouring Commonwealth Aircrew, where her piece The Light of the Unknown memorialized W0II William Bailey. Her tribute for Captain J. McGregor titled Memories of McGregor River was featured in the inaugural Oaks of Remembrance ceremony September 2025. Soon after, she was invited to perform at the Union Club of BC Remembrance Day service. Keira was awarded the 5 Years of Commemorative Music award at Government House, BC in April 2026. At the same event, she also performed an original piece called The Silence of Healing, composed to celebrate 2018 Invictus athlete Gina Pinangat. The work later won an award at the Greater Victoria Performing Arts Festival for composition. Keira is in Grade 12 and studies piano and composition with Emily Armour. (June 2026)
