Very big awards

The Nobel Peace Prize is one of the most important awards in the whole world. It is given to people or groups who help keep conflicts from breaking out. It is also for those who rebuild peace in war-torn countries.

Lester B. Pearson was a Canadian politician. He won the Nobel Peace Prize for his work to help expand United Nations (UN) peacekeeping. He had suggested a great idea to prevent the 1956 Suez Crisis in Egypt from erupting into a global conflict. The UN sent in a large force of peacekeepers from other countries to get between the warring sides. His diplomatic efforts worked! Pearson later became Canada’s prime minister.

In 1988, the Nobel Peace Prize was also awarded to all UN peacekeeping forces that had served over the years. Tens of thousands of Canadians received this recognition. This special honour led to the creation of the Canadian Peacekeeping Service Medal. Our military members and Veterans proudly wear this medal to show they have served in these kinds of missions. Thank you, Canadian peacekeepers, for working to help others around the world be safe and free!