Veterans honour Canada’s peacekeepers in Ottawa

Veterans from across Ontario and Quebec gathered in Ottawa for the National Peacekeepers Day Ceremony Sunday. CTV’s Natalie van Rooy reports.

Veterans from Ontario and Quebec gathered at the National Peacekeeping Monument in the nation’s capital on Sunday morning to honour those who have served or who are currently serving in peace operations around the world.

Dozens of veterans with a personal story to share and Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff attended the annual ceremony held on National Peacekeepers Day. The event also marked the 65th anniversary of the UN’s peacekeeping mission in the Congo.

“Today’s a great opportunity to remember about the dedication and service of peacekeepers within the UN framework,” said General Jennie Carignan, Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff.

The ceremony brought back memories for many at the event.

“This is our sixth time joining in on the National Peacekeepers Parade because as you can see by my medals, I served with the UN and I also served with NATO as a peacekeeper,” said Tom Robinson from Carleton Place.

“This is very important and important to me because I know people who we’ve lost.”

There was a moment of silence for those lost in peacekeeping missions.

“I’m just remembering all the people I served with over my four tours overseas and some of them are battling mental health problems,” said Robinson.

Canada’s Chief of the Defence Staff highlighted how the country continues to handle peacekeeping missions.

“In some cases, we have intermittent missions, such as a flying in supplies for missions in Africa and then we have also permanent officers deployed with missions, but it varies depending on the time of the year,” said Robinson.

The ceremony offered reflections for the next generation.

“It means a lot of different things to a lot of different people, but to me personally, it just means to be here, to be present and to discuss what’s going on in the world right now, what has happened, what might happen, and to resolve everything as a community,” said Misha Sharna, who is part of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadet Corps.

The ceremony also included the RCMP.

“Since 1989, the police have been employed in peacekeeping missions overseas,” said Wayne Mac Culloch, a past president of the Canadian Association of Veterans in UN Peacekeeping.

“Currently the police have six times the positions overseas that the military does so I’ve been trying to get a monument amendment done, putting a police figure on the south face for the past 11 years.”

The laying of the flowers, signing of the peacekeepers book and a general salute followed by “God Save the King” wrapped up the event.

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