Peackeeping, Peace, Memory: Reflections on the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa

Authors

Paul Gough, University of the West of England, BristolFollow

Abstract

Since 1948, under the auspices of the United Nations (UN), Canada has contributed over 80,000 men and women from all branches of the armed forces to global peacekeeping. During the 1950s and 1960s, Canada was, in fact, the greatest contributor of ’Blue Helmet’ soldiers to UN peacekeeping endeavours and became the undisputed leader in global peacekeeping. Although peacekeeping was never the sole preoccupation of Canada’s foreign policy, Canadian politicians liked to be seen as projecting an image as ’helpful fixers,’ acting as a voice of moderation between the extremes of the two superpowers during the Cold War. It was a Canadian statesman, Lester B. Pearson, who first used the UN Charter to create the idea of an international peacekeeping force—a concept that earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.

Recommended Citation

Gough, Paul "Peackeeping, Peace, Memory: Reflections on the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa." Canadian Military History 11, 3 (2002)