75 Years of UN Peacekeeping
2023 marked the 75th anniversary of United Nations Peacekeeping, created in 1948 to help countries around the world transition from states of conflict to peace.
Canada has played a crucial role in that mission: Prime Minister Lester Pearson was a driving force behind the creation of UN Peacekeeping, and Canada contributed more Peacekeepers than any other country during the Cold War. During this period, Canada was the only country to send peacekeepers to every UN peacekeeping mission. A long history of collaboration exists between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and UN Peacekeeping, as over 4,000 RCMP officers have served as Peacekeepers across 33 countries, aiding in the rebuilding and strengthening of police services in countries experiencing conflict and upheaval.
In commemoration of the RCMP’s 150th anniversary and UN Peacekeeping’s 75th anniversary, we interviewed several current and former RCMP officers to learn about their experiences as UN Peacekeepers. You can hear their stories below.
Interviews with former UN Peacekeepers
#PeaceBeginsWithMe
In a world still grappling with conflicts and divisions, the pursuit of peace and stability remains a paramount goal. In 2023, the United Nations Association in Canada (UNA-Canada) with our partners Veterans Affairs Canada and the Canadian Peacekeeping Veterans Association, organized an extraordinary event in Ottawa called 'UN Peacekeeping 75'. This significant gathering aimed to commemorate 75 years of UN peacekeeping operations and remind us all that ‘Peace Begins with Me’. Explore the significance of this event and the crucial role it played in fostering international cooperation and understanding here: https://www.unac.org/single-post/una-canada-s-peacekeeping-75-event-in-ottawa-reflecting-on-a-legacy-of-global-harmony.
We would like to express our profound gratitude to our outstanding speakers. It was an honor to have distinguished individuals like Jane Boissonneault, Jasteena Dhillon, Shelagh Stevens, and Elie Saykali grace our stage. Your expertise, passion, and unwavering commitment to peacekeeping enriched the knowledge and insights of our audience. Your presentations not only provided valuable information but also inspired our attendees to take proactive measures in their own communities to foster harmony and reconciliation. Your relentless dedication to promoting peace and making a positive impact on the world is truly commendable.
We asked visitors to record videos of themselves to serve as a reminder that peace begins with all of us.
