CBC Archives

Discuss with students how conflicts can be averted. Ask: Have you ever intervened when people were arguing and tried to settle an argument? Have students form small groups and discuss ways that arguments and conflicts can be settled. Gather students and share their ideas.

Direct students to the topic Lester B. Pearson: From Peacemaker to Prime Minister on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. In their groups, have students follow the links to Peacekeepers and Peacemakers: Canada’s Diplomatic Contribution and examine clips 2 and . They outline the reasons and events that lead to the Suez Crisis, and then describe Pearson’s suggestion which UN delegates accepted to end this potential world conflict. Have each group create a newspaper headline that captures the major result of these events.

Gather students to share their headlines. Ask: What short and long-term effects did Pearson’s resolution have on international events?

Students can explore additional clips from Peacekeepers and Peacemakers: Canada’s Diplomatic Contribution and other sources to identify various places where Canada sent soldiers as peacekeepers around the world. They create a world map to show Canada’ s international role as peacekeepers. How has this role changed over the years? Can Canada’s international troops still be called peacekeepers? Students can write a short explanation of their position on this issue.