A Canadian soldier who helped to process Syrian refugees in the Middle East celebrated his return home by popping the question to his girlfriend during a television interview.
Pte. Chris Chabaylo surprised his girlfriend Courtney Halfpenny on Tuesday morning, after returning to Base Gagetown in New Brunswick.
After conducting a brief interview with TV reporters, Chabaylo was asked if he had anything else to add.
“Yes, actually,” he said, as he turned to face his girlfriend and got down on one knee.
"Courtney, would you do me the honour of marrying me?" he asked as the cameras continued to roll.
After she accepted, Chabaylo kissed her on her hand, then rose from his knee and kissed her on the lips multiple times.
A surprised-looking Halfpenny told reporters she had no idea he was going to propose. “He tricked me,” she said, with a laugh.
She later allowed the cameras to get a shot of her new engagement ring, an elegant diamond setting.
Chabaylo is among the 230 soldiers who were dispatched to Lebanon and Jordan to assist with the processing of Syrian refugees destined for Canada. The soldiers left for the Middle East in mid-November as part of Operation Provision.
