by PAUL RAYNER

Created in the shadow of one major war, with the clouds of a second looming, the International Peace Garden has always been a beacon to how countries can get along. In 2007, a major anniversary will be celebrated as a way to remember these origins and goals.

The Peace Garden will be celebrating its 75th anniversary on July 14, the exact date it was dedicated in 1932. The garden is planning a full slate of events that day, looking at all elements of its development.

“Our main focus will be the commemoration date of July 14th,” said operations manager Doug Hevenor. “We will be looking at adding events on the grounds all year long, but the big things will be on that date.”

The International Peace Garden was the brainchild of Henry Moore, a horticulturist from Ontario. While attending a meeting in 1928 of the National Gardeners Association in Ohio, he discussed the idea of a major garden with a few associates. He presented the idea the next year at a convention in Toronto, and an international committee was set up to choose a location. J.W. Parmley of South Dakota, president of the Canada to Canal Association, contacted Bill Udall, the editor of the Boissevain Recorder, to form a committee to have the garden placed on the boundary between Manitoba and North Dakota, close to the geographical centre of North America.

A committee was struck with members from Manitoba and North Dakota, and in 1931, Moore and an associate were given their first look at the proposed area. It made the appropriate impression and the site was recommended to the National Gardeners Association, with a near unanimous decision following. Land was donated by the governments of Manitoba and North Dakota and development began. The garden, with little more than a cairn laid on the international boundary pledging peace between the two countries, was dedicated the next year. The sparsity of development did not affect crowds, as more than 50,000 were said to have attended the ceremony.

Over the years, the garden developed into a major destination point. The formal gardens, peace tower, floral clock, peace chapel, different theaters and buildings, as well as the Legion Athletic and International Music Camps, were among the developments added which built the garden into what it is today.

Some of that history is part of the 75th celebration. Hevenor said they are planning to get costumes from the dedication era from Virden, Rugby and Rolla. As well, they are presently working on a CD of stories from the 1932 dedication from those who were actually in attendance. As many as four tents will be on the grounds for displays, and although some are for community promotions, Hevenor hopes to have some historical ones as well.

“We have asked a lot of people to come and share their stories. Any books or anything from the Peace Garden would be great for the displays.”

The day will begin at 1 p.m. with the display openings, family photo booth, choral and dance concerts at the Music Camp, and the start of the guided tours of the garden. Hevenor said they are hoping to have transport for the tours, which they want for the whole season.

“It will allow us to stop at the different areas with a tour guide,” he said. “We are really trying to increase the length of people’s stay. Our theme is ‘come and participate’.”

The vintage fashion show and tea will start at 2 p.m., with the kite flying at 3 p.m. At 4 will be the tribute to peace and hot air balloon rides. .

In the evening, starting at 7 p.m. are the speakers and presentations. Hevenor said they have invited quite a guest list, including the president of the United States and the prime minister of Canada.

“We have invited almost everyone, so we hope we have a lot of dignitaries.”

The big concerts will happen in the evening, with the Fantasy Fiddlers and the a cappella group Impulse taking the stage. Neither are strangers to the Peace Garden, with Impulse in particular getting a strong reception in the past.

“They absolutely jammed the Burdick Centre. They wowed everyone.”

Other entertainment is planned from the area. One possibility includes concerts by the community choirs in Boissevain and Bottineau, including one joint performance. Also, they are looking for strong rope coil from the old grain elevators to add a tug of war, which was part of the 1932 ceremonies.

Although the focus is on the big day, more is planned for the entire season. For example, pieces from the 2006 Governors Art Exhibition will be on hand the entire month of July, and the gift shops will be carrying the 75th anniversary theme. They want to develop a landing area on Lake Stormon for canoeing and kayaking. Hevenor even mentioned a golf drive in August, where participants can see not only how far they can hit a ball, but also how close they can get to the 49th parallel.

“This is a year long celebration.”

With future developments like a botanical conservatory and conflict resolution centre on the horizon, the development of the International Peace Garden is always ongoing. However, as Hevenor stated, the modern world often needs a look to the past.

“When you look at when the Peace Garden was initiated,” he explained, “it was right after World War One ended with the horror of that war. It was right after the stock market crashed and the area was a dust bowl. Now, we’re talking about passports between the countries, and it is a time of global conflict. Both countries are in a war mode. We have to remember why this was built. That needs to be echoed again to a new generation, that we share a common goal of peace between the two countries.”