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Winnipeg Free Press

‘We still want to be friends': Hundreds unite in cross-border handshake

BOISSEVAIN, Man./ DUNSEITH, N.D. — On a rainy Saturday morning, the line along the 49th parallel was anything but quiet. Hundreds of people — some clutching umbrellas, others simply braving the drizzle — stood face-to-face across the invisible border between Canada and the United States. At a signal, they reached forward, clasping hands in a symbolic act that has meant peace and co-operation for generations: the Handshake Across the Border. It was the first time in decades the International Peace Garden had hosted the event, and for many participants, it felt deeply personal. Between 300 to 400 people participated in the Handshake Across the Border event on Saturday at the International Peace Garden along Manitoba's border with North Dakota. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) 'We're thankful for the Peace Garden,' said Danny Luecke of North Dakota, attending for the first time with his wife and children. 'Even though maybe on a national level there are frustrations, we still want to be friends. That handshake is about showing that friendship.' Luecke and his family moved to the Turtle Mountains three years ago and have visited the Peace Garden frequently. 'We go to Boissevain all the time — best bakery ever,' he said with a laugh. But Saturday's event was different. 'We heard about it last year but missed it, so we made sure to be here this year.' As for Donald Trump's suggestion Canada should become the United States' 51st state, Luecke was blunt: 'No, I think that's stupid. We're just grateful for what the Peace Garden does to foster peace.' The event drew people from near and far. Kevin Friedt, also from North Dakota, drove about two hours for his first international handshake. 'It's just cool to see the peace between the two different nations and everyone being friendly,' he said. Though unsure about Trump's proposal — 'I don't know how that would work' — he was sure of one thing: 'It'll be fun to see everyone come together.' It was the first time in decades the International Peace Garden hosted the event. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) Some came for more than the ceremony. Kathy Chatz, who moved to North Dakota about a year and a half ago, used the event as an opportunity to meet a Canadian friend from Saskatchewan. 'If it exists here, it can exist anywhere,' she said. 'We can reach across borders to build relationships, share stories, find our common ground, and create the world we wish to see — one handshake at a time.' For Camille Armstrong, a visitor from California, the handshake was about setting an example. She and her travel companions had been exploring Canada for weeks, visiting family in Winnipeg, when they decided to make the trip south to the Peace Garden. 'We as people are connected, and we need to be leaders for our leadership in the U.S.,' she said. 'They need to see that the people can lead in working together to solve problems and be peacemakers.' As for the idea of Canada joining the U.S., Armstrong didn't mince words: 'Absolutely not. That's ridiculous. No way.' Daniel Richter, another North Dakota resident, appreciated the event's deeper meaning. Canadians and Americans greet each other at the Manitoba / North Dakota border as a symbol of peace and friendship Saturday. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) 'I don't get too political, but in the U.S. right now, so much politics is focused on isolation,' he said. 'This is about inclusion, about culture, about appreciating other people.' Laughing, he added, 'We were joking we might be lucky if the Canadian we shake hands with pulls us across into Canada and doesn't let us come back.' Not everyone was there for political statements. Hugo Cota-Sanchez, a University of Saskatchewan professor originally from Mexico, used the handshake to mark a reunion with an American friend he hadn't seen in nearly a decade. 'I think it's a fantastic opportunity to show the friendship between our countries and to make sure it continues,' he said, adding that he hoped to return and possibly volunteer at the Peace Garden in the future. For Maiia Laloma of Winnipeg, the handshake was a celebration of new beginnings. 'We just became Canadian citizens this March,' she said. 'We want to feel, as Canadians, being friends with Americans, too — this is our first time experiencing that.' The turnout was a success despite the weather, with about 300 to 400 people participating in the handshake and many more visiting throughout the day, International Peace Garden chief executive officer Tim Chapman said. This year's cross-border handshake comes in the wake of U.S. President Donald Trump announcing 35-per cent tariffs on Canadian exports. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) 'It's a good example of us fulfilling our mission to celebrate longstanding co-operation and friendship between our two countries. Despite politics or trade differences, most Canadians and Americans truly value that connection.' Although no government officials from the United States were present at the event, two of their Canadian counterparts, Brandon Mayor Jeff Fawcett and Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations Minister Glen Simard, were in attendance. The Peace Garden has always been symbolic of our relationship, Fawcett said. 'The reality is, we're all just people with lots of similarities. It's good to get down here and say hello to our friends and neighbours.' Brandon East MLA Glen Simard stressed the handshake is a lasting symbol. 'Canada will never become the 51st state — we're a sovereign country with our unique history,' he said. 'But we're the best of allies, and the Peace Garden reminds us that it's peace first.' Wednesdays A weekly dispatch from the head of the Free Press newsroom. By the time the last hands were shaken, the drizzle had lightened and the sun peeked through the clouds. Conversations lingered, photos were taken, and promises were made to meet again next year. Americans and Canadians line up along the border of Manitoba and North Dakota at the Peace Garden in a display of neighbourly co-operation. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun) For some, such as Luecke, it was about showing up for the first time. For others, like Cota-Sanchez, it was about reconnecting after years apart. For all, it was a reminder that peace between nations is built not just by treaties, but by the everyday gestures of ordinary people. As Armstrong put it while leaving, 'It's just one handshake, but maybe it's the kind of thing the world needs more of.' aodutola@ X: @AbiolaOdutola