Peace Garden to host ‘Handshake Across the Border’

The International Peace Garden is set to host a ‘historic gesture of unity’ at the garden on Saturday, Aug. 9, as Canadians and Americans meet for the annual “Handshake Across the Border.”

The event, a symbolic reaffirmation of the peaceful relationship between the two nations, starts at 11 a.m. The handshake will take place on the 49th parallel, where the garden physically spans the international boundary between Manitoba and North Dakota.

The event is a highlight of the Summer Floral Celebration, a full-day festival running from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., featuring tours, floral design showcases, children’s activities, a vintage car show and artisan vendors, the International Peace Garden’s chief executive officer Tim Chapman said.

He explained the handshake tradition — where hundreds of people line up on either side of the border to shake hands — serves as a reminder of the International Peace Garden’s original purpose: to serve as a living symbol of goodwill and co-operation.

The event is expected to draw visitors from both sides of the border to one of the most unique public spaces in North America.

“This moment is about more than ceremony,” chapman said. “Imagine hundreds, if not thousands, of Americans and Canadians shaking hands across the 49th parallel between our terraces and the Peace Chapel.”

The handshake is symbolic, “but it’s also a very real expression of who we are at our best.”

The event comes at a time of concern about declining Canadian tourism to U.S. attractions, with organizers hoping that the celebration will not only draw renewed interest in cross-border travel but also underscore the deep social and cultural ties that transcend the international boundary.

The Peace Garden represents something bigger than flowers or landscaping, Chapman said, adding it’s a place where both countries are equally welcome. There are no fences, no checkpoints — just a space where people can meet, “learn from each other, and build connections.”

The International Peace Garden was born out of an idea proposed in 1928 by Henry J. Moore, a horticulturist and teacher from Islington, Ont. He dreamed of creating a place of peace at the border between the United States and Canada, using nature as a backdrop for mutual respect. That dream came to life in 1932 when more than 50,000 people attended the dedication of the garden’s cairn — a stone monument that still stands at the entry point on the international boundary.

Now in its 92nd year, the garden continues to thrive as both a horticultural landmark and a powerful symbol of peaceful diplomacy. The Summer Floral Celebration is one of its signature events, showcasing the garden in full bloom at the height of the summer season.

This year’s celebration includes guided garden tours, floral design demonstrations, a Cruise In car show, a scavenger hunt and a variety of children’s activities throughout the grounds. Local vendors will offer a range of products, including handmade jewelry, artwork, crafts, baked goods and specialty beverages.

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for the handshake ceremony and to spend the day exploring the 2,339-acre park, which includes display gardens, conservatories, walking trails, and the Peace Chapel — the only building in the world that straddles an international border.

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