Aug. 9 Declared Peacekeeping Day

The province has declared Aug. 9 to be Peacekeeping Day.

Premier John Hamm put forward the resolution in the legislature today, May 14, designating the day to honour the men and women who dedicate their lives to establishing and maintaining peace.

"It's important that we give veteran and current peacekeepers the recognition they deserve," Premier Hamm said. "They continue to be an important part of the world's progress toward peace."

Aug. 9 was chosen, at the suggestion of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping, in recognition of nine peacekeepers who were killed by a surface-to-air missile over Syria on Aug. 9, 1974.

The resolution was passed by the House without debate. Premier Hamm presented it at the request of the standing committee on veterans affairs.