WHEN Canadian troops, the first UN peacekeepers to Cyprus, arrived here on March 15, 1964 they were to stay only three months.
Their living conditions were difficult at first. They slept under the stars and later in abandoned buildings, but mostly in tents.
After more than two years of this they were able to obtain the use of buildings near Nicosia Airport. This became Camp Maple Leaf or ‘home away from home’.
Facilities gradually improved and Cancon became firmly established as part of life in Cyprus.
In 1966-67 there was a small incident that temporarily damaged relations between some Canadians and members of the Greek-Cypriot National Guard. A Canadian soldier dumped a large shipment of rancid canned sardines over a cliff with the word ‘poison’ printed in red all over the boxes. The Cypriots came across the sardines and thinking the words meant ‘fish’ in French (poisson), ate all the sardines. Fortunately there were no deaths but many Greek Cypriots thought the Canadians had tried to poison them.
After the 1974 invasion the Canadians moved into the abandoned Ledra Palace.
The main centre of tension, the Nicosia Zone came under Canadian control. Life on the ‘Green Line’ was never easy. Canadian solders were within shooting distance of both opposing forces. At times they faced bullets, threats and insults from both parties.
The strength of the contingent reached a high of over 1,100 in 1964-65 out of a total force of 6,500. But as tension subsided by 1969 UNFICYP was reduced by about half and reorganised. When hostilities broke out again in July 1974 Canada had around 480 troops stationed here.
Canada doubled its contribution during the invasion. This was reduced again in December 1974 to 750 and the Canadians became responsible for Nicosia East and the airfield. By late 1978 the contingent was further reduced to some 500. Cancon pulled out in 1993 but has maintained a presence with a handful of staff officers.
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