# Canadian Peacekeeping History — From Pearson to Today
Peacekeeping is one of Canada's proudest contributions to the world. Canada essentially invented modern UN peacekeeping in 1956, won a Nobel Peace Prize for it in 1957, and has continued the tradition ever since. Here is the full story and what the citizenship test asks.
The Suez Crisis and the birth of peacekeeping
In October 1956, Israel, Britain, and France invaded Egypt after Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. The crisis threatened to widen into a major war involving the United States and Soviet Union.
At the United Nations, Canada's Minister of External Affairs, Lester B. Pearson, proposed something unprecedented: a United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) — armed peacekeepers wearing UN uniforms, deployed to separate the warring sides while diplomatic solutions were negotiated.
The General Assembly adopted Pearson's plan. UNEF deployed to the Sinai in November 1956, supervising the withdrawal of foreign forces. It was the first major UN peacekeeping mission in history.
The Nobel Peace Prize
For inventing peacekeeping, Lester B. Pearson received the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said he had "saved the world." Pearson was the first Canadian to win the Nobel Peace Prize.
In 1963, Pearson became Canada's 14th Prime Minister. During his tenure (1963–1968), he introduced:
- The Maple Leaf flag (1965)
- Universal healthcare (Medicare)
- The Canada Pension Plan
- The Canada Student Loans Program
He laid the groundwork for the Official Languages Act that his successor (Pierre Trudeau) would pass in 1969.
For more, see [The Canadian Flag](/blog/canadian-flag-history-meaning) and [Famous Canadians and Inventions](/blog/famous-canadian-inventors-inventions).
Major Canadian peacekeeping missions
Since 1947 (when Canadians served in the UN's first observer mission in Kashmir), over 125,000 Canadians have served on UN peacekeeping missions. Major operations:
| Mission | Years | Where |
|---|---|---|
| UNEF I | 1956–1967 | Sinai (Egypt) |
| UNFICYP | 1964–1993 | Cyprus |
| UNEF II | 1973–1979 | Sinai again |
| UNDOF | 1974–today | Golan Heights (Syria/Israel) |
| UNPROFOR | 1992–1995 | Bosnia |
| UNAMIR | 1993–1996 | Rwanda (Lt-Gen Roméo Dallaire) |
| MINUSTAH | 2004–2017 | Haiti |
| MINUSMA | 2018–2019 | Mali |
About 130 Canadian peacekeepers have died in service.
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Roméo Dallaire and Rwanda
Canadian Lieutenant-General Roméo Dallaire commanded the UN mission to Rwanda (UNAMIR) during the 1994 genocide. His warnings before and during the genocide were ignored by the UN Security Council. After the mission, Dallaire became a passionate advocate for genocide prevention and for veterans struggling with PTSD. His book *Shake Hands with the Devil* is required reading in many Canadian schools.
Peacekeeping today
Canada's peacekeeping commitment has evolved over the decades. The Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal honours those who have served. National Peacekeepers' Day is observed on August 9 each year — the anniversary of the deaths of nine Canadian peacekeepers in a 1974 plane crash in Syria.
While Canada's peacekeeping numbers are smaller today than during the Cold War, peacekeeping remains a core part of Canadian foreign policy and identity.
What the test asks
Common citizenship-test questions:
- Who won the Nobel Peace Prize for proposing UN peacekeeping? *(Lester B. Pearson)*
- In what year did Pearson win the Nobel Peace Prize? *(1957)*
- What major Canadian innovation in international affairs happened in 1956? *(UN peacekeeping)*
For more, see [The Canadian Armed Forces](/blog/canadian-armed-forces-three-branches) and [Famous Canadians and Inventions](/blog/famous-canadian-inventors-inventions).
Practice the actual citizenship test
Try our [free practice test](/practice-test) — it covers peacekeeping questions in the same format you will see on test day.
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Frequently Asked Questions
1Who invented UN peacekeeping?
Lester B. Pearson, then Canada's Minister of External Affairs, proposed the first major UN peacekeeping force during the 1956 Suez Crisis. He won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957 for this. He later became Canada's 14th Prime Minister.
2What was the Suez Crisis?
A 1956 international crisis when Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt after President Nasser nationalised the Suez Canal. Pearson proposed a UN Emergency Force (UNEF) to separate the combatants — the first major UN peacekeeping deployment.
3How many Canadians have served on peacekeeping missions?
Over 125,000 Canadians have served on UN peacekeeping missions since 1947. About 130 Canadian peacekeepers have died in service.
4Where have Canadian peacekeepers served?
Major missions have included Cyprus (1964–1993), the Sinai (1956–1967, 1973–1979), Bosnia (1992–1995), Rwanda (1993–1996), Haiti (1990s, 2010s), and Mali (2018–2019). Canadians have served on dozens of other missions.
5Is Canadian peacekeeping on the citizenship test?
Yes. Common questions: who won the Nobel Peace Prize for proposing UN peacekeeping (Lester B. Pearson), what year (1957), and what role does Canada play in UN missions.