Submitted Photo Participants in the Handshake Across the Border on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the International Peace Garden extend greetings in a show of unity and peace. Photo from the International Peace Garden.

DUNSEITH – Hundreds of participants from both the United States and Canada gathered on Saturday, Aug. 9, at the International Peace Garden, north of Dunseith, to stand hand-in-hand in a simple but profound act of peace.

The Handshake Across the Border that took place along the 49th parallel brought together families, longtime neighbors and first-time visitors to the Garden to join hands in a shared expression of trust, cooperation and cross-border friendship.

“At a time when global and even local relationships are being tested, this handshake reminds us of what truly matters — connection, trust and shared responsibility,” said Tim Chapman, CEO of the International Peace Garden, said in a news release. “The U.S.-Canada border is the longest unfortified border in the world. That’s more than a fact. It’s a symbol. And this event is a living commitment to that legacy of peace. We were gratified by the large turnout, and this is a testament to the unbreakable bond between the people of our two countries.”

The Handshake Across the Border was designed not as a formal policy statement, but as a community-driven celebration of what unites residents of the two countries, according to a statement from the Peace Garden. With a turnout that felt both intimate and powerful, the gathering reaffirmed the shared values and enduring friendship between the two nations, the statement said.

Founded in 1932 as a symbol of peace between the United States and Canada, the International Peace Garden spans 2,400 acres across the Turtle Mountains. Located directly on the border between Dunseith and Boissevain, Manitoba, it is one of the few places on earth where people from two nations can freely gather without barriers. The nonprofit Garden features formal floral displays, native prairie, forest trails and monuments dedicated to peace and cooperation.