Canada was once known as a nation of peacekeepers. Because of this, when our citizens travelled overseas, they knew that having a Canadian flag on their luggage would generally elicit good will and respect from those they met. It was a nice feeling.
That has changed over the past decade or so, however.
During the '90s, Canada was involved in 20 UN missions. That number includes what is perhaps our most wellknown
involvement, the mission led by Roméo Dallaire in Rwanda. Dallaire chronicled his horrifying experiences during the 1994 Rwandan genocide in his book, Shake Hands with the Devil.
From 2000 to 2009, Canada took part in about seven missions (with some of those missions beginning in the '90s). In 2013, Canada was ranked number 50 on a list of 117 countries supplying peacekeepers to UN operations. We contributed
200 personnel. In recent years, Canada's focus has been a militaristic one. From 2001 to 2011, Canada directed much of its resources to the war in Afghanistan, where our troops still have a role.
More recently, the government spent millions to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, including advertisements that gave our "peacekeeper" image a bloodthirsty warmonger-style makeover.
It is a disturbing shift.
Our peacekeepers have witnessed atrocities and done all they could, even when they felt helpless to intervene.
They have suffered, they have been injured and they have died, trying to help people in deplorable situations.
Today is National Peacekeepers' Day.
As well as remembering the peacekeepers of the past, let's also consider what role we want our country to have in the future - a strong, military nation ready for war? Or a nation that uses its strength to help others?
