by PAUL RAYNER

With the completion of one major phase of the International Peace Garden development on the horizon, those responsible for the tourist attraction are working on getting the money in place for the next one.

Representatives of the Peace Garden, including President Ed Anderson, board member Jerry Storie, CEO Doug Hevenor and planning committee member and former board chair Dr. David Anderson, met with Manitoba Minster of Highways and Infrastructure Ron Lemieux and Karlene Marharaj, the executive director of the Canada/Manitoba Infrastructure Secretariat on May 14.  As well, Guy Prefontaine of GPP Architecture was in attendance. The purpose, President Anderson stated, was to discuss funding for the second phase of Peace Garden capital development.

“The meeting was scheduled to talk about the funding for the Peace and Conflict Resolution Centre, with its Wall of Peace, gift shop and other amenities, Anderson stated. “The directors felt with a meeting with Mr. Lemieux we could deliver strategic priorities that need to be made for a second round of funding. We were told we had 40 minutes, but Mr. Lemieux gave us two hours.”

The centre is to cost an estimated $10.9 million. Anderson said the garden was shut out of recent infrastructure funding announcements. Therefore, they were looking for both a little support and ideas regarding different avenues to take for funding. According to Hevenor, the provincial meeting went well.

“I think the minister was very receptive to the message we were delivering,” Hevenor stated. “I think this was really the first time we delivered our concept to him about the centre. I think he was quite responsive to our situation.”

To this end, Anderson said Lemieux agreed to support a meeting on the federal side. The idea is to meet with Treasury Minister Vic Toews and Lynne Yelich, Minister of State and Western Diversification. The reason is to discuss the possibility of getting some funding from the Western Diversification Fund for the project. Anderson has already discussed the possibility with Brandon-Souris MP Merv Tweed.

“I have contacted Brandon-Souris MP Merv Tweed to facilitate a meeting with them,” Anderson explained. “Merv feels the project should be tapping into Western Diversification. He said he would be more than willing to set up a meeting. It should work well with those concerned.”
Long discussed, the Peace and Conflict Resolution Centre is considered a major addition to the area. The major value of the project would be a place where different groups could sit down and discuss problems and work out areas of conflict. Hevenor feels there is no limit to the level of participants who could use the centre. For example, local Aboriginal groups on both sides of the international border could use the centre to settle disputes such as land claims. Local groups are not the only ones, however.

“There are so many potential conflicts,” he explained. “There is our northern border. There are discussions on NAFTA. Wouldn’t it be awesome to have a G-20 or G-8 conference in the Peace Garden?”

The major push for this project comes at a time when the first phase is fully paid for and is proceeding nicely. This phase, which included drainage works, an improved sunken garden and Interpretive Centre/Conservatory, was projected to cost $7.4 million, to be paid for from money from both sides of the border – federal and provincial/state. The last amount was a loan for $1.9 million. This was recently paid off by the Government of North Dakota.

“That was pretty awesome. It was outside of the governor’s budget, which happens but not often. It showed the whole state was behind it.”

Practically, the drainage works are done, with the final landscaping to proceed in June. The sunken garden, located within the formal garden area including an octagonal design and flowing water, is also proceeding well, with trees, shrubbery being added next month. Hevenor said this garden will be ready for the 2009 tourist season, and is in fact already enjoyable right now.

They have also got a start on the largest of the first phase projects. The Interpretive Centre/Conservatory, which will include a space for tropical plants, has had the roadwork, ditchwork and waterpipes completed. This past week, they started digging the footings for the 17,600 square foot structure, located about 120 feet south of the existing pavilions.

Hevenor said they planned to have the project completed by the end of December. However, due to the fact that key people like the steel manufacturer, were caught up in the Red River flood, they were delayed by 6-8 weeks. They are now looking for a January-mid-February completion date.

It will be good to get the first phase done, and not only for its own sake. It will help with the fundraising for phase two as well. For one thing, Hevenor stated, the Peace Garden has yet to partner with any private agencies, like the American Kresge Foundation. Having something completed might help in this regard.

“This might work better for us with private foundations. We can sell it as a whole project. Once the ball is rolling, it is more appropriate for private foundations to get involved. The government leaders also like to see practical work progressing.”

As well, the CEO said there was an area in the Conflict Resolution Centre that may play a role in funding itself. The Wall of Peace will allow people to purchase space to put names on to honour family members.

“It is for people to remember loved ones,” he stated, “For a modest donation, they can have a tablet affixed to the wall. You don’t have to be a statesman or fallen soldier.”

As for the meeting with the Canadian government ministers, Anderson said it could happen as soon as two weeks time, as Toews and Yelich are to be in Brandon. He feels it is important to tap into some funding for a major project due to be completed in two years time.

“I don’t think there is a time frame on the Western Diversification Fund,” Anderson said. “I firmly believe it is important to meet with Ministers Toews and Yelich in order to trigger any funding we can get.”

Hevenor feels the centre will be a major addition to the garden and area. He contends that it even connects historically with the Peace Garden’s initial development. The Garden came into being in a time of economic unrest and was developed while the dictators of Europe and Asia were beginning to hit their stride. Times are similar now. There is a need for a development such as this.

“Why isn’t this the right time?” Hevenor aske. “We’re proposing a neutral area to mitigate and resolve conflict. Why should Manitoba and North Dakota think small?”