Petawawa restaurant honours soldier's dream

Canadian Forces members came out Wednesday to celebrate the grand opening of a Lebanese restaurant in Petawawa, Ont., that the family of a Canadian soldier killed in Afghanistan said was started to honour their son.

Trooper Marc Diab, 22, was a member of the Royal Canadian Dragoons based at CFB Petawawa when he was killed by a roadside bomb northeast of Kandahar city on March 8, 2009.

Diab, whose family moved to Canada from Lebanon in 2000, had told family and friends one of his dreams was to open a Lebanese restaurant in Petawawa when his career in the Forces was over. His parents decided to bring his plans to life.

"Unfortunately, his life was cut short," said Diab's father, Hani. "So we have to carry on his dream, and here we are today. We are very proud we achieved this."

Four other soldiers were injured in the attack that took Diab's life. Cpl. Arron Ouellette was with Diab and driving a light-armoured vehicle over the field when the explosion occurred.

'He was gone'

"It was devastating," said Ouellette. "The vehicle… there's pieces all over the place. The first thing I saw was Marc. He was on top of the turret and he was ... yeah, definitely gone."

Ouellette was one of dozens of colleagues in the Canadian Forces who came out to the opening to lend their support for the restaurant, which features images and displays of Diab and his accomplishments.

Sgt. Maj. Shawn Mercer recalled Diab's sense of humour at the opening and called the Mississauga, Ont.-raised soldier "a wonderful addition to our squadron."

Diab's parents sold three restaurants in Toronto to open the new one, called Madameek.

Jihan Diab, Marc's mother, said the accomplishment is bittersweet, however. "I wish he was here to do it himself, but I'm pretty sure he is with us right now," she said.