National Peacekeepers' Day

National Peacekeepers' Day is an official remembrance day for Canadian veterans of military peacekeeping activities. It is officially marked on 9 August of each year and alternately may be observed on the closest Sunday.

The date was chosen to commemorate 9 August 1974, when nine Canadian peacekeepers serving on UNEF II were killed when their aircraft was shot down over Syria, the highest number of Canadian peacekeepers killed in a single incident.

While British Columbia Order in Council 856 first set August 9 as Peacekeepers memorial day on June 30, 1993, Federal legislation to make the day an official national day in Canada was passed in June 2008.