ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — The recent rash of Canadian deaths has been "beyond difficult" for troops based in Afghanistan and their relatives, the country's top soldier said Tuesday.

"I don't think tough quite describes it," said Gen. Rick Hillier in his first public remarks since the bodies of four Canadians killed on Aug. 3 were returned home.

"Tough is when you lose one soldier. When you lose the number that we've lost over these 10, 12 days here, that goes beyond that difficulty."

Seven Canadians have died in Afghanistan this month.

Hillier, who attended the repatriation Monday night of a military medic at Canadian Forces Base Trenton in Ontario, said the knowledge that the victims were helping rebuild the war-torn country does little to console their mourning families.

"All of that, when you meet grieving parents or a young widow with young children, is actually not a great deal of comfort when you're talking to them," Hillier said in a speech at the annual Canadian Bar Association conference.

"But you know what? I go to Trenton to show my respect and show my gratitude to those great young soldiers and their families, maybe trying to help inspire the families to get through the toughest days of their lives. And you know something? I always leave Trenton inspired by them."

Cpl. Andrew Eykelenboom was killed Friday when a suicide bomber plowed an explosives-laden pickup truck into a NATO convoy in southern Afghanistan.

The 23-year-old is the first Canadian military medic killed in action since the Korean War.

A funeral for Cpl. Bryce Keller, who was killed along with three other Canadian soldiers on Aug. 3 during a battle with Taliban fighters, will be held Tuesday in Sherwood Park, Alta.

Twenty-six Canadian soldiers and one diplomat have died in Afghanistan since deploying to the war-torn country in 2002.