Canada's international contribution between 1945 and 2011

By carolyn is awesome

  • Gouzenko Affair

    Igor Gouzenko was a Russian spy in Canada, but offered to give the Canadian government information about the Russian spy ring if the Canadian government would protect him from the Soviet Union. This marked the beginning of the Cold War in Canada.
  • Period: to

    Canada's International Contributions Between 1945 and 2011

  • Canada Joins the United Nations

    Canadian John Humphrey is credited with drafting the Charter of the UN

  • Beginning of Cold War (Iron Curtan Speech)

    Stalin established a Soviet communist rule in 6 European countries. Winston Chruchill declared the an IRON CURTAIN had fallen across Europe, meaning the boundary dividing the eastern communists and the western non communist states.

  • Berlin Airlift

    Western controlled West Berlin lay geographically within Soviet East Germany, so when the Soviets blocked off the highways and roads leading to Berlin, people of WesT Berlin were unable to recieve supplies. The West responded witha massive airlift, lanfding planes every two minutes in West Berlin for 15 months to supply the 2.5 million citizens. As a result of the crisis, two seperate governments were created in Berlin, and the western Allies deicided to form NATO

  • Canada joins NATO

    The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was formed for the main purpose of mutual defense against the Soviet Communists. Member states all contributed the defence and agreed that an attack on one member would be an attack on them all.

  • Canada enters the Korean War

    Over 26 500 Candians served the UN fighting the Communists in North Korea away from South Korea. This was significant in that gave Canada the chance to prove their support for the United Nations and willingness to fight fot the goals of the UN. The Korean war showed the world that the UN was willing to take action when required (unlike the League of Nations)

  • The Suez Crisis

    Egypt seized the Suez canal, a vital trade route, from Britain and France, antagonizing them. The Soviet Union took Egypt's side, demanding that Briatin and France retreat. Lester Pearson, at the time Canada's Minister of External Affairs, went to the UN suugestin a United Nations Emergency Forces to keep members of the conflict apart while a settlement could be worked out. It was a success.
    Pearson won the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for what was essentially the invention of Peace Keeping.

  • Canada joins NORAD

    The North American Defence System included radar stations across Canada and the USA to detect Soviet planes or missiles and give early warning of an attack. Three radar lines were built across Northern Canada, and Canada conributed $300 million.

  • Canadian Peace Keepers in Cyprus

    Canadian troops were sent to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus to keep peace bwteen the Greek majority and Turkish minority. Canadians did not leave until 1993, and the Cypriots have lived in relative harmony since. Canada spent $600 million and lost 30 soldiers in the operation

  • Canada recognizes communist China

    Communists took over China in 1949, but the UN refused to recognize them, instead allowing the former governemt that was now Taiwan to have seat on the UN Security Council. Canada recognized it as the offical governemt of China in 1970, shortly before the USA did the same

  • Canada enters the Gulf war

    Canada participated with the UN force in the conflict surrounding the Iraqui invasion of Kuwait by sending ships and fighter planes to patrol the Persian Gulf.

  • Cold War ends

    Canada entered Bosnia-Herzegovina after war broke out in the Balkans in 1991. Over the 20 yars spent there, over 40 000 Canadian soldiers served in peace keeping efforts against violent ethnic conflicts and genocide that coused many violations of human rights. 23 Canadian soldiers were killed in the mission.

  • Canadian Peace Keepers in Bosnia

    Canada entered Bosnia-Herzegovina with the UN after war broke out in the Balkans in 1991. Over the 20 yars spent there, over 40 000 Canadian soldiers served in peace keeping efforts against violent ethnic conflicts and genocide that coused many violations of human rights. 23 Canadian soldiers were killed in the mission.

  • Candian Peacekeepers in Somalia

    Over 900 Canadian soldiers landed in Somalia to try and restore order to the nation that was plagued by famine and cicil war. However, they returned home disgraced after soldiers brutally murdered innocent citizens of Somalia. It was an enormous scandal for the Candian military, and led to the disbanding of the Canadian Airborne Regiment.

  • Canadian Peacekeepers in Rwanda

    Small amount of Canadian foreces were sent to Rwanda by the UN under General Romeo Dallaire but were unable to prevent the tragic genocide that took place.

  • War on Terror

    The Wr on Terror was originally declared by the USA against Middle Eatern terrorist group al-Qaeda, in retaliation for al-Qaeda's bombing of the twin towers in New York. It has since expanded to the UK, Canada, and many other countires taking part in the war in Afghanistan.

  • Canada enters Afghanistan with NATO

    Shortly after the September 11 attacks, NATO declared that the attack was an attack not only on the USA, but on all NATO members. Canada entered Afghanistan to help the mission of driving out the Al-Qaeda freindly Taliban, but are still there to this day trying to help stabilize the Afghanistan infrastructure.