By Richard Lawrence
On the 9th August, 1974, a United Nations Buffalo aircraft flying over Egypt was shot out of the sky by a Syrian air defence missile. On that plane were nine Canadian Armed Forces personnel involved in a peacekeeping mission who were killed on what was supposed to be a routine resupply mission to the presence in the Golan Heights. To this day, it is still the largest single loss of Canadian lives since Canada began participating in UN Peacekeeping missions in 1948. That is why the 9th August is selected as National Peacekeepers’ Day every year with this year’s remembrance ceremony being held at the Reconciliation Monument, Ottawa, on Sunday the 9th on an overcast, warm day.
To see all the pictures from this event, go to:
https://www.richardlawrencephotography.ca/rlpgalleries/2026/npd2026/
This year, besides commemorating the fallen members of the CAF, RCMP, and other police forces and civilians, this ceremony also remembered 20th anniversary of the end of Canada’s contribution to the United Nations mission in the Golan Heights (ended in 2006 after 32 continuous years) and the 30th anniversary of the end of the United Nations Mission in Haiti from 1993 to 1996 (UNMIH).
The reviewing officer for the UN Veterans, CAF members, and Police contingent members was former Chief of the Defence Staff, Gen. (ret’d) Walt Natynczyk who, along with the parade commander, Commander of Joint Forces Command, LGen. Darcy Molstad, CWO Donovan Crawford, the Joint Forces Command Sergeant-Major, and RCMP Deputy Commissioner Marie-Claude Dandenault, quickly moved down the front rank of the parade contingent, stopping to speak to a few peacekeepers along the way about their service. For a novel turn, Gen. Natynczyk decided to do the rear rank as well and seemed to really enjoy himself as he came across peacekeeping veterans that he knew.
There were only two speakers during the ceremony starting with MP Anita Vandenbeld, and ending with Gen. Natynczyk. Ms. Vandenbeld has a special affinity for the peacekeepers as she has worked on several projects for the United Nations and has spent time in Bosnia, Kosovo, and Herzegovina with the peacekeepers so understands the dangers they face.
In commemoration, it is tradition at this ceremony to place bouquets of flowers in the barrels of three cannons rather than to lay wreaths. The first bouquet was placed by MP Anita Vandenbeld, on behalf of the Government, with Gen. Natynczyk, and the second placed by RMCP Deputy Commissioner Dandenault of behalf of the RCMP along with LGen. Molstad on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces. The third bouquet was placed by Ms. Madelaine Griffis on behalf of the veterans’ families along with CAVUNP interim National President Ronald Griffis and CPVA President Don MacPhearson.
As mentioned earlier, final remarks were provided by Gen. Natynczyk who congratulated all peacekeepers on the jobs that they completed and the bravery and competence in which the missions were handled. He noted the high standard of the Canadian peacekeepers as,
“Person for person, our Canadian service, police and civilian members are amongst the best in the world at bringing peace. … and when it comes to peacekeeping I hold to the notion that to make a good peacekeeper, you need a combat capable soldier, sailor, air man or woman or special forces trooper.”
“Our service personnel and police have been very successful in peacekeeping operations because we’ve been the proverbial bridge, bringing together other nations serving on these same missions, bringing together the warring factions and promoting dialogue. While at the same time, with professional operational capability, being the credible observer to the conflict and reporting the truth to the outside world, creating a deterrence presence and keeping the peace.”
On that note, he recognized that he was standing in the way of everyone gong to the post-ceremony reception so closed his remarks by thanking everyone for attending and recognizing the veterans for good works they have done and good works they are doing today.
