Another group of Canadian soldiers returned from a world trouble spot -- this time, Haiti.

About 70 soldiers arrived Sunday to the sound of bagpipes and the welcome of family members' open arms at CFB Gagetown after a five-month assignment in Haiti. Their flight delayed, they arrived in the early morning hours.

For Captain Kim LaPointe's wife and three daughters, it was worth it to get up early after going so long without seeing him.

"The two little ones were so worried that I wouldn't be able to wake them up," said Lynne LaPointe, Kim's wife. "'What are you going to do if you can't wake me up, mommy?' I said, 'don't worry, we'll sort that out'. They just jumped out of bed and here we are."

About 500 troops and six helicopters were sent in February. Haiti had descended into chaos -- the outcome of a rebel uprising and the ouster of former President Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

The Canadian troops patrolled the streets of Port-au-Prince, the capital city. They restored peace in an area where murders, car-jackings and kidnappings were out of control.

"Well I hope so," said Capt. David Quick, when asked if their presence did any good. "Being a pessimist, I'm not sure if I did, but I think that every little thing counts."

The soldiers will continue returning home over the rest of August. They are being replaced by Argentine troops. In addition, about 100 RCMP officers will start going over. Besides that, Canada will be funding a variety of humanitarian development aid.

After some minor administrative duties, most of the soldiers will go on leave. But for some like LaPointe, the celebration has already begun.

His plan? "Do all the things that we were going to do over the summer that suddenly got cancelled. We'll squeeze it into three weeks and make it worthwhile," he says.

With a report from CTV's Andy Campbell