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Gouzenko Affair
A young clerk by the name of Igor Gouzenko, with the Soviet Embassy in Ottawa, asked Canada for protection from the Soviet Union. He gave the Canadian Government documents proving the Soviet Union was operating two spy rings in Canada in exchange. -
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Canada’s International Involvement
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Canada Joins United Nations
Canada joined the United Nations; a group of 50 countries whose goals were to prevent wars, keep peace between/in countries, encourage cooperation between nations, defend human rights, improve the standards of living all over the world, and promote equality. -
Iron Curtain Speech Beginning of Cold War
The Prime Minister of Britain at the time (Minister Winston Churchill) declared that an “Iron Curtain” had fallen across Europe. This Iron Curtain was the division between communist (Eastern) and non-communist (Western) Europe. A wall was even built down the centre of Berlin to also divide this city. -
Berlin Airlift
The Soviet Union blocked transportation through Eastern Europe, which prevented Western Europe from reaching West Berlin. Impressively, Western Europe supplied Western Berlin with necessary supplies for fifteen months by aircraft. -
Canada Joins NATO
NATO stood for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which was formed and designed solely for mutual defense to prevent the Soviet from expanding in Europe. Each member state contributed to NATO’s defense force. -
Canada Enters the Korean War
After the Japanese surrendered in 1945, Korea was divided. North Korea became communist and South Korea was democratic. In 1950, over 100,000 North Korean troops, supported by Soviet-built tanks and aircraft, invaded South Korea. The United States demanded that the United Nations come to the defense of South Korea, and a UN force made up of 32 countries was sent to fight. Over 26,500 Canadians served in Korea. This was significant because it showed that Canada supported the United Nations and wa -
The Suez Crisis
Egyptian President Nasser seized the Suez Canal, a vital trade route, from Britain and France. Britain and France joined with Israel to attack Egypt. The Soviet Union sided with Egypt and demanded that they withdraw. Lester Pearson (Canada’s PM at the time) went to the United Nations and suggested the creation of the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF). This would keep the opponents apart while a settlement was worked out. (This won Lester Pearson the Nobel Peace Prize in 1957.) -
Canada Joins NORAD
NORAD (The North American Defense System) was created between Canada and the United States in 1957. It included radar stations used to detect Soviet planes or missiles, with three of them built in Northern Canada. -
Canadian Peace-Keepers in Cyprus
A civil war broke out on the Mediterranean island Cyprus between the Greek majority and the Turkish minority. Canadian troops were sent there in 1964, but the last of the troops stayed until 1993. Canada spent almost $600 million because of this war and 30 lives were lost, but Cyprus stayed in relative harmony after the Canadian troops left. -
Canada Recognizes Communist China
Communists, led by Mao Zedong, took over the government of China in 1949. The United Nations failed to recognize China as a communist country, allowing China’s former government in Taiwan to have a seat on the UN Security Council. Canada recognized China as communist and under world pressure, America eventually allowed the communist country to replace Taiwan on the Security Council. -
Canada Enters the Gulf War
The Iraqi army invaded Kuwait, a country abundant in oil. Saddam Hussein claimed Kuwait belonged to Iraq. The United Nations stepped in by creating an economical boycott on Iraq and cut off its oil trade. The UN then tried to drive the Iraqi army out of Kuwait by force, an operation called Desert Storm. Canada entered this war in the Persian Gulf, sending ships and fighter planes to patrol. -
Cold War Ends
The American’s threatened to bomb the Soviets if they did not remove their missiles and the Soviets surrendered. There was an increased demand for the United Nation’s peacekeeping missions after the Cold War had ended. -
Canadian Peacekeepers in Bosnia
A civil war broke out in Bosnia between the Orthodox, the Muslims, and the Catholics. In 1992, the peacekeeping mission UNPROFOR was created in Sarajevo. The United Nations troops tried to keep a “safe zone” and attempted to bring in food and medical supplies safely. Croatian soldiers began to attack Canadian soldiers occupying the safe zone. The efforts in Bosnia became known as the worst battle involving Canadian soldiers since the Korean War. -
Canadian Peacekeepers in Somalia
Canadian troops were sent to Somalia on a peacekeeping mission called UNISOM. Somalia had suffered through famine and civil war and no longer had a government. The Canadian reputation for peacekeeping almost disappeared due to events such as the shooting of Somalis and the beating of a Somali teenager. -
Canadian Peacekeepers in Rwanda
In Rwanda, the Hutus tribe committed genocide against the Tutsis tribe. UN forces, including Canadian forces, were sent to make peace but failed because they did not stop the genocide. -
Canada with NATO Enters Afghanistan
With NATO, an attack on one member nation was an attack on all member nations. NATO troops became involved in Operation Enduring Freedom and Canada contributed many peacekeeping troops and millions of dollars in assistance in Iraq. -
War on Terror
The War on Terror began on 9/11, when two hijacked planes crashed into the World Trade Centers in New York. George W. Bush called a war, more specifically a war on terrorism, and the United States sent troops into Afghanistan. This was called Operation Enduring Freedom.
