On 9 August 2025, members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF), veterans, families, and local community members gathered at Peacekeepers Park in Angus, Ont., to honour the sacrifice of Canadian Peacekeepers and to recognize National Peacekeepers’ Day.
This annual commemoration stands as a reminder of Canada’s enduring role in international peace and security. Since the first United Nations peacekeeping mission in 1948, more than 125,000 Canadian Armed Forces members have served around the world, often in dangerous and unpredictable conditions.
Remembering the Buffalo Nine
Among the most solemn moments remembered each year is the tragedy of 9 August 1974, when a Canadian Forces Buffalo aircraft on a United Nations mission was shot down by Syrian missiles while attempting a resupply flight in the Middle East. All nine CAF members aboard were killed—the single largest loss of Canadian lives in a peacekeeping operation.
“Fifty-one years later, the legacy of the Buffalo Nine endures as a symbol of courage, sacrifice, and Canada’s commitment to peace,” said Fern Taillefer, President of the Canadian Association of Veterans in United Nations Peacekeeping (Central Ontario Chapter). “Their story reminds us that peacekeeping is not without risk, and that those who wear the blue beret do so in service of humanity.”
Two of the Buffalo Nine hailed from Ontario, and their sacrifice continues to be recognized by the communities of CFB Borden and Angus Township.
The names of the Buffalo Nine are:
- Captain George Garry Foster
- Captain Keith Bradley Mirau
- Captain Robert Barr Wicks
- Master Warrant Officer Gaston Landry
- Master Warrant Officer Cyril Bogdan Korejwo
- Master Corporal Ronald Clifford Spencer
- Corporal Morris Harry Trevor Kennington
- Corporal Michael William Simpson
- Corporal Bruce Kenneth Stringer
Canada’s Ongoing Commitment
Since 1948, Canadian Peacekeepers have served in dozens of missions across the globe, from Cyprus and Rwanda to present-day operations in Africa and the Middle East. National Peacekeepers’ Day serves as a moment to not only reflect on sacrifices made, but also to reaffirm Canada’s ongoing role in global peace operations.
As the ceremony concluded, families, veterans, and serving members stood together in silence: a community united by remembrance, and a nation recommitted to the values of peace.
