International Peace Garden, History and Progress

              The Manitoba Horticultural Association is planning the development of an
arboretum, in which shade trees and shrubs of the varieties considered suitable
for this part of North America, can be grown. A site of two acres not far from
the No. 1 Picnic Kitchen has been selected. During the winter it was cleared
and the land broken up this summer, but another season's cultivation is required
before it will be in shape for planting.
Officials of the Four- H Clubs of Manitoba have also selected a site which
they plan to sponsor, near an area that could be used for games.
The Women's Institutes of Manitoba have established a fund with which
to construct a Picnic Nook, A site has been selected on the west shore of Lake
Stormon and a road has been graded and made ready for gravelling.
The North Dakota Homemakers Peace Garden Committee made a number
of improvements in the Lodge by furnishing additional equipment and supplying
drapes for the windows.
The linking of these several organizations with definite projects in the
Garden is a very helpful means of keeping the Peace Garden and its ideals for
which it was organized before some thousands of people.
Briefly presented are the results of four summers' construction program.
It required many hundreds of tons of stone that had to be dug out of the foothills
of the Turtle Mountains west of Dunseith, North Dakota, and moved by truck
nearh 15 miles. These stones were shaped by Norwegian masons resident in the
district. The grave! was hauled from the same vicinity. Several carloads of cement
have gone into the reinforced concrete footings for the stone walls, the pools, the
stairs and the mortar used in wal! construction. The concrete construction was
under the direction of a Polish- born citizen of tin's continent. Gardeners with
English background handled the horticultural work. These men of various
nationalities worked together to create a centrepiece worthy of this International
Peace Garden.
Perhaps the most encouraging aspect of the year lias been the realization of
internationalism in the Garden. Not only has there been over three times the
number of visitors of the previous year, but they have come from 48 states and
10 provinces on this continent, and nine countries of the world beyond. In June,
there was a pilgrimage of the National Council of Women of Canada, during
their convention, to the Garden; and in the tall, the Associated Countrywomen
of the World sent delegates from many countries to the Garden. An International
Relations Conference of students from the Minot State College of North Dakota
and the students of Brandon College, Brandon, Manitoba, added further signifi­cance
to the Garden; while the Animal Meeting of the Garden itself in early
September forms tire focal point of the year's work. Through the international
addresses of prominent people of both countries at this time the citizens get
the " timeless vision that peace is something to cherish, that it is something one
has to work for, and that here people are working to erect not statues and
memorials to commemorate victory in war or valor in combat, but instead a
lovely garden to honor and laud Peace itself."
Executive Officers for 1953- 54
Chairman of the Board Mr. John A. Stormon. Rolla, North Dakota
Honorary President Mr. W. V. Udall, Ste. 9, Fairmont Apts., Winnipeg, Man.
President Mr. D. G. McKenzie, 267 Grain Exchange Bldg, Winnipeg, Man.
1st Vice- President Mr. Russell Reid, Bismarck. North Dakota
2nd Vice- President Dr. W. R. Leslie. Morden. Manitoba
Treasurer — Mr. A. J. Bobbins, 184 Campbell St.. Winnipeg, Man.
Secretary — Mr. Harry A. Graves, State College Station, Fargo, N . D .
Superintendent of Garden Mr. M . J. Tinline, Boissevain, Man. ( 536- 12th St., Brandon)
Directors on Executive . - M r . Russell Reid, Bismarck, North Dakota
Dr. W. R. Leslie, Morden, Manitoba
Mr. Eric B. Gowler, Boissevain, Manitoba