Canadian Association of Veterans of UN Peacekeeping

Each day this week this blog - in honour of National Volunteer Week  - will feature non-profit organizations with which Norman Leach & Associates is proud to be associated.

 

Since 1947 United Nations Forces have performed peacekeeping duties worldwide. Canada has played an important role in those activities from the beginning and to date more than 100,000 Canadians have worn the blue beret. More than 100 have died "in the service of peace."

In January 1986, a group of Canadian UN Veterans met in Toronto to establish the Canadian Association of Veterans of UN Peacekeeping. By 1989 permission was granted to use both "United Nations" and "Canadian" along with the authority to use the UN emblem as part of the Association identifier on the  lapel pin, blazer crest, hat badge, membership card and stationery. Chapters have been formed in most regions of the country.

The Association takes a particular interest in the peacekeeping monument "Reconciliation" that was erected in Ottawa in 1992 as a tribute to peacekeepers after the award of the Nobel prize in 1988. The unveiling of the monument was marked by a national ceremony and a parade of more than 2,000 peacekeepers through the streets of the nation's capital.

Association members include serving and retired Canadian Military, RCMP and civilian veterans of United Nations Peacekeeping missions, other non-UN missions established under UN Resolutions and peacekeeping missions sanctioned by the Government of Canada.

Norman Leach is an Honourary Peacekeeper and an honorary member of CAVUNP.