Canada Remembers Times 2024
Veterans' Week Special Edition

5-11 November 2024 - Page 2

Rwanda – 30 years later

Canadians have served in many challenging peacekeeping operations. The United Nations (UN) mission to Rwanda from 1993 to 1996 was especially difficult.

Most people in the central African country of Rwanda are from two ethnic groups: the Hutus and Tutsis. There had been tensions between them for centuries but things got worse in the early 1990s. The risk of a full-scale civil war grew. In response, the UN set up peacekeeping efforts there.

The UN Assistance Mission for Rwanda (UNAMIR) began in the fall of 1993. Canadian Armed Forces officers played an important leadership role. But even with UN peacekeepers deployed, the situation turned into a nightmare in April 1994. Hutus began to massacre hundreds of thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus.

The peacekeepers did what they could during the widespread killing. However, they were too few in number and limited in what they could do because of their orders from the UN. They were able to save some people but, in the end, they could not prevent the worst of the horrific violence. More Canadian Armed Forces members deployed to Rwanda after the genocide. They helped with humanitarian, health care, mine clearing and refugee resettlement efforts before leaving the country in 1996.

Witnessing terrible events can have a deep impact on peacekeepers. This has been one of the harshest results of the Canadian mission in Rwanda. Many of our Veterans who served there developed post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This psychological condition can have serious and long-lasting effects.

Honouring an unknown Newfoundland soldier

On July 1 we mark Canada Day from coast to coast to coast. In Newfoundland and Labrador, July 1 is also Memorial Day—a very solemn time to remember.

On July 1, 1916, the Newfoundland Regiment attacked on the opening day of the Battle of the Somme in France. More than 700 Newfoundlanders died, were wounded or went missing in less than an hour of fighting at Beaumont-Hamel. It was the regiment’s heaviest losses of the First World War.

Newfoundland was a separate British colony before joining Canada in 1949. They built their own National War Memorial in St. John’s in 1924 to commemorate Newfoundland and Labrador’s wartime achievements. The memorial recently underwent major renovations in preparation for its 100th anniversary.

This year’s Memorial Day ceremony included the unveiling of a new tomb of an unknown Newfoundland First World War soldier. The remains of an unidentified service member from Newfoundland and Labrador who died in the conflict was carefully moved from a military cemetery in France to St. John’s. After solemnly laying in state, he was laid to rest in front of the war memorial. The tomb symbolizes Newfoundlanders and Labradorians who served in all branches of service and have no known grave.

The bitter war at sea

The Battle of the Atlantic started 85 years ago on the very first day of the Second World War. The deadly struggle at sea lasted from 1939 to 1945 and was the war’s longest campaign.

The Allies needed to transport supplies and troops from North America to Europe. These resources were vital in the fight against the enemy. Germany knew this and wanted to cut that lifeline. U-boats (enemy submarines) had great success torpedoing hundreds of Allied transport ships early in the war.

The tide began to turn thanks to the courage of Allied sailors and aviators, and their adoption of new technology and tactics. The Allies gained the upper hand and eventually triumphed in the war at sea. Members of the Royal Canadian Navy, Canadian Merchant Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force played leading roles in this battle. Many died as a result. But without victory in the Battle of the Atlantic, the Allies could not have won the war.

Six decades in Cyprus

Canadian Armed Forces peacekeeping efforts have long been a point of pride for our country. One of Canada’s best known peace operations has been in Cyprus for the past 60 years.

The Mediterranean island of Cyprus has large Greek and Turkish populations. These groups have a long history of tension. Open violence broke out soon after Cyprus became an independent country in 1960. In 1964, the United Nations (UN) launched a major peacekeeping mission there and Canadians played an important role.

Our soldiers helped maintain a fragile peace in Cyprus for a decade. Then, in 1974, thousands of troops from neighbouring Turkey invaded the northern portion of the island. Our peacekeepers suddenly found themselves in the middle of a war zone. Cyprus ended up split into two parts separated by a long buffer zone called the Green Line.

A large group of Canadian peacekeepers continued to serve on the island until 1993. They spent countless hours patrolling the Green Line to prevent renewed violence. In fact, every Regular Force Canadian infantry regiment deployed to Cyprus at some point. Our country no longer has a large peacekeeping force there but Canada still supports the UN efforts with a mission called Operation Snowgoose. More than 25,000 Canadian Armed Forces members have served in Cyprus over the years. Sadly, 28 of them lost their lives.

Tragedy in the sky

August 9, 1974, was a dark day for peacekeeping in our country. Nine Canadian Armed Forces members were flying a routine United Nations flight in the Middle East. Their Buffalo military transport plane was shot down by missiles soon before it was scheduled to land in Syria. This was Canada’s largest loss of life in a single day during a peace mission. For this reason, August 9 was declared National Peacekeepers’ Day in 2008. This special day is marked with ceremonies and events every year. It is a chance to recognize all Canadian military members, police officers and civilians who have taken part in international peace operations.

Fifty years have now passed since the Buffalo 9 tragedy. As Canadians, we must remember the sacrifices made by our peacekeepers—no matter how long ago they happened.

On August 9, we especially remember the 9 Canadian peacekeepers who died in 1974: George Garry Foster, Morris Harry Trevor Kennington, Cyril Bogdan Korejwo, Gaston Landry, Keith Bradley Mirau, Michael William Simpson, Ronald Clifford Spencer, Bruce Kenneth Stringer and Robert Barr Wicks.

In the line of fire

Canadian Armed Forces members have served around the world to help protect peace and freedom. But our men and women in uniform also carry out important duties right here at home.

Canada is a huge country with a challenging environment. Hurricanes, floods, blizzards, forest fires and ice storms have affected hundreds of thousands of people. They also stress our country’s infrastructure and economy. Sometimes, the threats are so overwhelming that local authorities need a hand. This is why the Canadian Armed Forces created Operation Lentus more than a decade ago.

Municipalities, provinces and territories can ask our military for support when natural disasters strike. For example, large forest fires have threatened many communities across Canada in recent years. The summer of 2023 was very intense for wildfires. Thousands of Canadian Armed Forces members were sent to hot spots in Alberta, Nova Scotia, Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and the Northwest Territories. With water hoses, shovels and axes they joined forces with local firefighters to beat back the flames.

Date modified:: 2024-08-01

Canada Remembers Times 2024 Veterans' Week Special Edition