The first United Nations Peacekeeping Operation was an attempt to confront and defeat the worst in Man with the best in Man, to counter violence with tolerance, might with moderation and war with peace.
Since then, day after day, year after year, UN Peacekeepers have been meeting the threat and reality of conflict, without losing faith, without giving in and without giving up.
Kofi A. Annan
United Nations Secretary-General
Inspired by the 1988 awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to United Nations Peacekeepers, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM, illustrated at left) was created to acknowledge the efforts of Canadian Peacekeepers. This includes all serving and former members of the Canadian Forces, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other Provincial, Regional and Municipal police services and Canadian civilians who have upheld the tradition of Canadian Peacekeeping.
The medal's obverse features three Canadian Peacekeeper figures that top the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa (Reconciliation). One is an unarmed UN Military Observer holding a pair of binoculars; the second, a woman, operates a radio set while the third stands guard with a shouldered weapon. Above them is a dove in flight, the International symbol of Peace. The medal bears the inscriptions "Peacekeeping" and "Service de la Paix" together with two Maple Leafs. The medal's reverse shows the cipher of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on a Maple Leaf surrounded by two sprigs of Laurel and the word "Canada".
The medal's ribbon consists of four colours - green, red, white and UN blue. The Green represents volunteerism; the red and white are the colours of the Canadian National flag while the white and blue represent the colour of the UN since 1947.
The red and white carry additional meaning. White is associated with purity and Peacekeeping is one of mankind's highest ideals. Red is symbolic of the blood shed by Canadian Peacekeepers who have fallen in the Service of Peace while on UN Peacekeeping and Observer missions.
Since then, day after day, year after year, UN Peacekeepers have been meeting the threat and reality of conflict, without losing faith, without giving in and without giving up.
Kofi A. Annan
United Nations Secretary-General
Inspired by the 1988 awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to United Nations Peacekeepers, the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal (CPSM, illustrated at left) was created to acknowledge the efforts of Canadian Peacekeepers. This includes all serving and former members of the Canadian Forces, members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and other Provincial, Regional and Municipal police services and Canadian civilians who have upheld the tradition of Canadian Peacekeeping.
The medal's obverse features three Canadian Peacekeeper figures that top the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa (Reconciliation). One is an unarmed UN Military Observer holding a pair of binoculars; the second, a woman, operates a radio set while the third stands guard with a shouldered weapon. Above them is a dove in flight, the International symbol of Peace. The medal bears the inscriptions "Peacekeeping" and "Service de la Paix" together with two Maple Leafs. The medal's reverse shows the cipher of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, on a Maple Leaf surrounded by two sprigs of Laurel and the word "Canada".
The medal's ribbon consists of four colours - green, red, white and UN blue. The Green represents volunteerism; the red and white are the colours of the Canadian National flag while the white and blue represent the colour of the UN since 1947.
The red and white carry additional meaning. White is associated with purity and Peacekeeping is one of mankind's highest ideals. Red is symbolic of the blood shed by Canadian Peacekeepers who have fallen in the Service of Peace while on UN Peacekeeping and Observer missions.
Reprinted, in part, from the LGen RR Crabbe (Winnipeg) Chapter website.
