Lt.-Gen. Romeo Dallaire tells a packed Northern United Place about the importance of respect for human rights in today's world. - Darren Stewart/NNSL photo

The retired general used graphic slides and anecdotes to illustrate the importance of peacekeeping in the current global climate.

"We're facing a new era where humans are committing unspeakable acts on other humans," he said.

He became a well-known speaker on the subject after leading an international peacekeeping force in Rwanda in 1994. The atrocities Dallaire witnessed in the tiny African nation spurred him to become a strong advocate for human rights.

He said Canada, in particular, has a responsibility to move beyond its borders to spread its ideal of human rights in the "new era of conflict. This nation, including people in the North, is made up of warm, caring human beings who have a high level of respect for human life."

Dallaire wore a white poppy, which is a symbol worn by those opposed to a war with Iraq.

He briefly touched on the recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan and called for a more peaceful resolution to those conflicts.

"When those two towers came down we should have focused on creating a coalition to find the suspects out and try them, and create impunity for others, rather than act like immature children going about using extreme force," he said.

In a conversation before the talk, Dallaire said he became familiar with issues facing Northern Canada when he advocated for a Northern military base as a high-ranking official in the late 1980s.

"I think there is a lot to be gained from a larger Northern presence," he said. "If you're asking me to predict the future I'd say there's such a great opportunity to attract more people, not only for the security of the nation in the circumpolar region but for increased tourism."