The International Peace Garden, a longstanding symbol of unity between Canada and the United States, has found itself at the center of political strife, drawing threats of boycotts from Canadians frustrated with U.S. rhetoric.
CEO Tim Chapman, who oversees the 2,339-acre park that spans the Manitoba-North Dakota border, said the Garden has received a wave of angry emails, some from Canadians vowing not to visit due to recent statements from Washington, D.C.
“We did receive negative feedback,” Chapman said in an interview. “That was tough to read. I have never seen anything quite like this.”
“Some of the emails were from Canadians saying they were upset by the rhetoric coming out of Washington, D.C., and were not planning to visit,” he added. “There may be a financial impact.”
Blacklock's Reporter says the backlash follows comments made by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who suggested Canada should become the 51st U.S. state.
The remark, first made during a banquet at Trump’s Florida residence on November 30, was initially dismissed as lighthearted by Canadian officials. However, after Trump repeated the sentiment in public on February 9 and described Canada as a failed state reliant on American aid, tensions escalated.
“If they became our 51st state, it would be the greatest thing they could ever do,” Trump told reporters. “It would be unbelievable. It would be a cherished state and think of how beautiful that country would be without that artificial line running right through it.”
In response, the Canadian government called for boycotts of U.S. suppliers and travel destinations. Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc attempted to downplay the controversy, saying, “The President was telling jokes. The President was teasing us. It was of course on that issue in no way a serious comment.”
Despite the political tensions, Chapman emphasized that the Peace Garden remains non-partisan and committed to its original mission of unity and friendship.
The park, established in 1932 and supported by both the Manitoba Women’s Institute and North Dakota Homemakers, features a stone cairn inscribed with a pledge of peace.
“One thing that has always happened is the governments of Manitoba and North Dakota, regardless of which political party is in power, have always been supportive of us as a non-profit,” Chapman said.
He also highlighted the Garden’s long history of international cooperation, citing the 9/11 memorial built from World Trade Center steel as an example of cross-border solidarity.
“That is a great story we love telling,” he said.
Chapman acknowledged the broader political unrest in a statement titled Message To Our Supporters, writing that “current political strife between the countries is stirring a variety of sentiments.”
However, he urged visitors to remember the Garden’s core mission.
“We may feel we have little say in global affairs but the International Peace Garden is an opportunity to continue showing the world that Canadians and Americans celebrate and embrace our longstanding peace,” he wrote. “We are interconnected because of our beautiful continent and family ties.”