Canada has served in over 50 peacekeeping missions, including every United Nations (UN) peacekeeping effort from its inception until 1989. More than 125,000 Canadians have served in international peacekeeping operations, with approximately 130 Canadians having died during these operations. Canada's strong support for multilateralism and internationalism has been closely related to its peacekeeping efforts.
Canadian peacekeeper in 1976 wearing the distinctive flag of Canada and UN blue helmet
The Canadian delegation to the United Nations Conference on International Organization, San Francisco, May 1945
Royal Canadian Mounted Police peacekeeper in 2011 wearing the distinctive UN blue beret
The Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa, Canada
History of United Nations peacekeeping
The United Nations Peacekeeping efforts began in 1948. Its first activity was in the Middle East to observe and maintain the ceasefire during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Since then, United Nations peacekeepers have taken part in a total of 72 missions around the globe, 12 of which continue today. The peacekeeping force as a whole received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1988.
14th Prime Minister of Canada, Lester B. Pearson a Nobel Peace Prize laureate
Canadian peacekeeper in 1976 wearing the distinctive UN blue helmet
Alpine Helicopters contract Bell 212 on MINUGUA peacekeeping duty in Guatemala, 1998
UN Soldiers in Eritrea as part of UNMEE. Photo by Dawit Rezene
