The Cairn was dedicated on August 8, 2004 to our Peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the service of our country since the signing of the United Nations Charter on the 24 October 1945. It is located north of the Women's Tri-Service Monument on Memorial Boulevard and faces north toward Portage Avenue. The three pillars of strength represent the Army, Navy, Air Force and most recently our RCMP. They represent our PAST, PRESENT and FUTURE and we dedicate this Cairn to all our Canadian Peacekeepers who have lost their lives in the Service of Peace.
The centre pillar is 12' tall with a 45 degree bevelled top to show the United Nations medal engraved into the stone. The Word "PRESENT" is engraved into the pillar vertically. The pillar to the left is 10' tall, has the same degree bevel showing the Peacekeeping Medal and the word "PAST" engraved vertically into the front of the pillar. The pillar to the right is 8' tall with the same bevel as the others and will show the Peacekeeping Medal on the top with the word "FUTURE" engraved vertically into the front. The total weight of the Cairn is approximately 33,000 Lbs.
Manitoba has declared the 9th of August as Peacekeeping Day and we celebrate it on the closest Sunday to that date. Therefore the unveiling and dedication of the Cairn took place on Memorial Boulevard at 1:00 PM on Sunday, 8th of August, 2004. Representatives from our Military, the RCMP, ANAVETS, Royal Canadian Legions, War Amputations of Canada, Hong Kong Veterans, Korea Veterans, Air Force Association, Jewish War Veterans Association and many other Associations in our Province were in attendance to honour our Canadian Peacekeepers. There was also had a crowd of over 300 spectators who came out to watch. Upon completion of the unveiling we returned to Unit 283 ANAVETS for refreshments and Lunch. There were over 250 that returned for the comradeship for the afternoon.
We would like to thank everyone for your support and assistance in obtaining funding for a Cairn. We would also like to thank the local media for their excellent coverage from the start right up to the dedication service.
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, 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) 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 police services, and Canadian civilians who have upheld the fifty-year tradition of Canadian peacekeeping.
The medal's obverse features the three Canadian Peacekeeper figures that top the Peacekeeping Monument in Ottawa. One is an unarmed United Nations Military Observer, holding a pair of binoculars. A second soldier, a woman, shoulders a radio, while the third stands guard with a rifle. Above them flies a dove, the international symbol of peace. This side of the medal also bears the inscriptions PEACEKEEPING and SERVICE DE LA PAIX, together with two maple leafs. The medal's reverse shows the cipher of Her Majesty the Queen on a maple leas surrounded by two sprigs of laurel and the word CANADA.
The medal's ribbon consists of four colours green, red, white, and United Nations blue. The green represents volunteerism; the red and white are the colours of the Canadian flag; while the white and blue represent the colour of the United Nations' 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 Canada's 114 peacekeepers who have fallen it service to their country while on peacekeeping and observer missions.
The CPSM will recognize service by Canadians deployed outside Canada for a minimum of 30 days (not necessarily consecutively; either on the strength of a unit of the Canadian Forces deployed on a peacekeeping or observe mission, or in direct support of any such mission This will include members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, other Canadian police officers and civilians who served with such forces or peacekeeping missions.
The information displayed here, as well as additional information, can be found on the Department of National Defence website under "Honours and Awards".