National Peacekeepers' Day
Encyclopedia
National Peacekeepers' Day is an official remembrance day for Canadian
veterans of military peacekeeping
activities. It is officially marked on 9 August of each year and observed on the closest Sunday.
The date was chosen to commemorate 9 August 1974, when nine Canadian peacekeepers serving on UNEF II
were killed when their aircraft
was shot down over Syria, the highest number of Canadian peacekeepers killed in a single incident.
Legislation to make the day an official national day in Canada was passed in June 2008.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
veterans of military peacekeeping
Peacekeeping
Peacekeeping is an activity that aims to create the conditions for lasting peace. It is distinguished from both peacebuilding and peacemaking....
activities. It is officially marked on 9 August of each year and observed on the closest Sunday.
The date was chosen to commemorate 9 August 1974, when nine Canadian peacekeepers serving on UNEF II
United Nations Emergency Force
The first United Nations Emergency Force was established by United Nations General Assembly to secure an end to the 1956 Suez Crisis with resolution 1001 on November 7, 1956. The force was developed in large measure as a result of efforts by UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld and a proposal...
were killed when their aircraft
Buffalo 461
Buffalo 461 was a Canadian military De Havilland Canada DHC-5 Buffalo assigned to the second United Nations Emergency Force force in Syria in support of United Nations Security Council Resolution 340...
was shot down over Syria, the highest number of Canadian peacekeepers killed in a single incident.
Legislation to make the day an official national day in Canada was passed in June 2008.