Today is Canada Day! UNFICYP pays tribute to a country that has supported the Mission, and the cause of peace in Cyprus, since 1964, when the very first Canadian troops arrived on the island. From 15 March 1964 to 15 June 1993, Canada maintained a battalion-sized contingent of peace-support troops in UNFICYP, going through 59 troop rotations and deploying 29,000 troops. Some 28 Canadian troops lost their lives in the service of peace on the island, and we continue to honour their sacrifice by carrying on with their important work.

UNFICYP's new Head of Mission & Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Elizabeth Spehar, is Canadian, as are a number of civilian personnel; just one Canadian is currently serving with UNFICYP's military component.

Happy Canada Day!