Canada's Chief of Defence Staff Gen. Rick Hillier arrived in Kandahar, Afghanistan on Sunday to celebrate Christmas with the troops.

CTV's Murray Oliver said weather has been cold and rainy in Kandahar, but Hillier's visit is sure to brighten the spirits of soldiers spending Christmas far from home.

"General Hillier has really become a celebrity for Canadian troops," Oliver told CTV Newsnet.

"He is a very down to earth guy. He has got a certain way of speaking to the common soldier that people just love. And for sure, when he came here he really electrified the place and there is a lot of good feeling, a lot of people looking forward to hearing him speak."

Adding to the excitement, Hillier brought some entertainment for the troops, including comedians Rick Mercer and Mary Walsh and the Montreal rock band Jonas.

Hillier was set to spend Christmas day at the Kandahar base, but he spent Sunday touring some of the outlying areas around Kandahar.

"There is a personal danger. This is a shooting war, and General Hillier is not afraid to say hello to those soldiers and talk with them and find out whom they are missing at Christmas time," Oliver said.

Although it is business as usual for Canadian Forces in Afghanistan, Oliver said there is some evidence on the base that Dec. 25 is fast approaching.

"There are some little decorations around the camp," Oliver said. "In fact, I saw a small Christmas tree decorated with pieces of shrapnel from a mortar round, so there is a military touch on the Christmas holidays."

However, military efforts are still proceeding at full strength and there is no indication they will be scaled back over the next few days.

"People have work to do," Oliver said.

"There are a lot of soldiers outside the camp in trenches and on the front lines but certainly even inside the camp people are working hard. There are airplanes coming and going. There are convoys to be fuelled. There is no rest."

NATO's Operation Falcon's Summit offensive is in full swing and Canadian troops are playing a key role in the campaign -- meaning there's little time to sit back and celebrate the season.

The campaign has been successful so far, with troops encountering little resistance and managing to occupy two towns without firing a shot. As a result, NATO forces have decided push the offensive north in pursuit or Taliban fighters in more remote villages, Oliver said.