National Peacekeepers' Day (french: Journée Nationale des Casques Bleus) is an official remembrance day for

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source of ...

veterans of military

peacekeeping Peacekeeping comprises activities intended to create conditions that favour lasting peace. Research generally finds that peacekeeping reduces civilian and battlefield deaths, as well as reduces the risk of renewed warfare. Within the United N ...

activities. It is officially marked on 9 August of each year and alternately may be observed on the closest Sunday. The date was chosen to commemorate 9 August 1974, when nine Canadian peacekeepers serving on UNEF II were killed when their

aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to fly by gaining support from the air. It counters the force of gravity by using either static lift or by using the dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in a few cases the downward thrust from jet engines ...

was shot down over Syria, the highest number of Canadian peacekeepers killed in a single incident. While British Columbia Order in Council 856 first set August 9 as Peacekeepers memorial day on June 30, 1993, Federal legislation to make the day an official national day in Canada was passed in June 2008.Fitzpatrick
Campaign to bring more attention to peacekeeping veterans
The Western Star, 8 August 2008

References

August observances {{Canada-org-stub

See also

References