Peacekeepers Day Ceremony 2024

The Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP)
cordially invites you to the annual Peacekeepers Day ceremony during which we honour those who have paid the Ultimate Sacrifice serving Canada on

Peacekeeping and Peace Support Operations

Sunday, 11 August, 2024
1130 hours to 1300 hours
Peacekeeper Park, Garrison Green, Calgary, AB
(Off Richard Road on Peacekeepers Way and Dallaire Avenue SW)

Help us remember Canada’s Fallen Peacekeepers

Since 29 June, 1948 (UNTSO – Palestine) Canada has provided Peacekeeping military personnel, Army, Navy and Air Force, for service around the world in an effort to support the United Nations in its efforts to help bring peace to troubled lands. The Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (CAVUNP) was established in 1986 to honour fallen Peacekeepers and to support the families of those who willingly suffered the supreme sacrifice.

Canadians have served on United Nations Peace Enforcement and Peacekeeping missions in disputed territories around the world including Korea, the Congo, Cyprus, Bosnia, Croatia, Gaza Strip, Golan Heights, Haiti, Central African Republic, Vietnam, Rwanda, Afghanistan and Mali in Northwest Africa. During these missions, dozens of Canadian military personnel have given their lives in the service of peace.

On 9 August, 1974, during the United Nations peace mission in Egypt, on a flight to Damascus, the Canadian Buffalo aircraft #115461 was shot down by Syrian Armed Forces killing all 9 Canadian military personnel on board.  The Syrians claimed it was an accident. During over 75 years of U.N. International Peace Support operations, this was the largest single incident loss of life during which Canadian soldiers have been involved. In honour of these brave souls and their sacrifice the Government of Canada proclaimed 9 August as Canadian Peacekeepers Day on 18 June, 2008.

Every year on the Sunday that falls closest to 9 August the members of the Colonel Donald S. Ethell (Calgary) Chapter of CAVUNP honour our fallen Peacekeepers including the “Buffalo Nine”. This is the 50^th anniversary of the Buffalo aircraft being shot down over Syria killing all nine Peacekeepers, the largest loss of Peacekeepers’ lives in a single day.

This is also the time that we honour the Memorial Cross families as we remember their loved ones. The names of our fallen Peacekeepers are forever remembered as their names are engraved on the Wall of Honour at Calgary’s Peacekeepers Park in Garrison Green.

This year's service will be held at Peacekeepers Park on 11 August with the service beginning at 1130 hours. Everyone is welcome to attend and to remember those living and deceased who have fought for the peace enjoy in this country.