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Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Ontario Salutes Peacekeepers


    McGuinty Government Honours Contributions Of Police Officers

    TORONTO, Aug. 9 /CNW/ -

    NEWS

    Ontario marked National Peacekeepers' Day today by paying tribute to the
courage, commitment and sacrifice of Ontarians in peacekeeping operations
worldwide.
    Officers from the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Ottawa, Greater
Sudbury, Durham Regional, Peel Regional and Peterborough Lakefield police
services are currently serving on peacekeeping missions in Haiti, Afghanistan
and Sierra Leone.
    The presence of an international civilian police force is a key component
in the rebuilding process in war torn societies. Officers from Ontario are in
demand as peacekeepers for their expertise and professionalism to train local
police forces and help restore the rule of law in many regions.

    QUOTE

    "Ontarians take special pride in the contributions made by the men and
women of the OPP and other police services who have served with distinction on
many dangerous assignments in United Nations policing missions since 1995,"
said Community Safety and Correctional Services Minister Rick Bartolucci.

    QUICK FACTS

    <<
    -   The OPP has participated in 62 international policing missions since
        1995, when the service began participating in the United Nations
        Policing program.
    -   Every day, more than 9,000 police officers from 92 countries go on
        patrol as international peacekeepers. They provide training, advise
        national policing services and help ensure compliance with human
        rights standards.
    -   August 9 was chosen as National Peacekeepers' Day to honour the nine
        Canadian peacekeepers who died on that date in 1974, when their plane
        was shot down over Syria. This incident marked Canada's worst ever
        one-day loss in peacekeeping operations.
    >>

    LEARN MORE

    Learn more about Canadian peacekeepers 
(http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm?source=teach_resources/peacefact)a
nd the United Nations Policing
(http://www.un.org/depts/dpko/police/index.shtml) program.

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For further information: Laura Blondeau, Minister's Office, (416)
325-4973; Anthony Brown, Communications Branch, (416) 314-7772

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