Barrie Advance

27 May  2010

A lot of people subscribe to the fanciful myth that Canada is a "peacekeeper nation" which is a load of bunk.

Have you ever heard of Canada's contributions to the South African War, WWI, WWII, Korea or the first Gulf War? Peacekeeping, like world peace, is an ideal situation, but the reality is wars are waged and even if peace is achieved, it is often held together by militaries prepared to go to war to defend that peace.  

A good example is the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) in the former Yugoslavia, a full-fledged peacekeeping mission. In September 1993, troops from the 2nd Battalion, Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (2 PPCLI), fought in the first sustained battle fought by Canadians since the Korean War.  

I am talking about Operation Medak Pocket, where Canadians were among the best armed troops at UNPROFOR's disposal. This 14-day battle, in which 27 Croatian Army members were killed or wounded, earned two PPCLI the Commander-in-Chief's Unit Commendation in 2002 for their bravery. Sadly, this battle was not well publicized at the time, perhaps owing to Canada's image as a "peacekeeper nation."

Peacekeeping does come with a price, as evidenced by the memorial wall at Peacekeepers' Park in Calgary, Alberta, where the names of the more than 120 Canadian military men and women and diplomats killed on peacekeeping missions are inscribed.