Americans also fill out an ArriveCan in order to enter Canada now that US visitors can come to the country for non-essential travel, if they are fully vaccinated. This was opened up to other foreign nationals with the same restrictions on September 7.
International Peace Garden CEO Tim Chapman said they found out about the app at the time of the border opening through press releases and information of that type, not a specific notification. They took an obvious interest as it would allow for Canadians to visit the garden along the border.
“We want people to know about it,” Chapman said, “to follow what CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency) and the federal government say to do.”
As with any new technology, there are the inevitable glitches. In some cases, people who are exempt from quarantine have been getting orders to do so, with follow-ups from Health Canada and the RCMP. The website for ArriveCan mentions that people can ignore these if their exemption is confirmed by Canada Customs.
Chapman said he has heard of a few complications, but not too many and feels the federal government will continue to improve and update the app.
One disappointment is that children under 12, who cannot be vaccinated, or any children not jabbed, cannot cross the border without a 14-day quarantine. This means if they were to go, they would not be able to go to school for two weeks. Chapman said that some people plan to go to the Peace Garden with family, and the situation is unfortunate, but added this is what they have had to deal with for two summers.
At any rate, he said they have been seeing more visitors from our side of the border since the 49th has opened up, at least one way.
“There have been more and more people the last few weekends. We’re seeing more and more Manitoba plates. For me as an American, it is nice to see more locals in the Garden. If the app is one step in the right direction, that’s great. It has encouraged people to be more comfortable going through the border.”
The Garden has brought back the 9/11 ceremony this year, starting at 11am on September 11. It has been 20 years since the terrorist attack, and new Premier Kelvin Goertzen will be among those on hand. Chapman said he feels there should be a good crowd for the ceremony, held near the 9/11 memorial made of girders from the Twin Towers in New York.
As well, work has begun on the expansion of the Conservatory. This should be ready by next year, which will be the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the Peace Garden. With some good fortune, it will be a brand new year.
“We are absolutely looking forward to it, with 2022 looking great right now,” he stated. “It will be our 90th and along with that there will be the grand opening of our play area and the Conservatory expansion. It should be great.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff