In 1994, the Pearson Peacekeeping Centre (PPC) was established at the request of the Government of Canada, with Alex Morrison as its first president. That year, the United Nations General Assembly (resolution 49/37) encouraged the establishment of peacekeeping training centres for military and civilian personnel.
The first of its kind anywhere in the world, the PPC was named in honour of Lester B. Pearson, former Prime Minister of Canada. Pearson was the recipient of the 1957 Nobel Peace Prize for the role he played in establishing the United Nations Emergency Force – the first modern international peace operation.
Increasing demands of conflict prevention and resolution, paired with the growing scope of Canada’s involvement in all aspects of peace operations, required the creation of a focal point for education, training and research activities. The teaching environment needed to be multidisciplinary and international – providing a common place where persons from different professional, cultural and national backgrounds could gather and learn together.
On April 24, 1995, the PPC was officially opened in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia. The opening ceremony included over 500 guests, such as Ambassador (ret´d) Geoffrey Pearson, son of The Right Honourable Lester B. Pearson.