Anyone wanting to appear on screen while enjoying the beauty of the International Peace Garden will have their opportunity on July 30.

An international video crew will be out at the Garden creating footage of the local attraction. According to Peace Garden CEO Tim Chapman, they are looking to promote the area now and into the future.

“This is a different type of promotion this year,” Chapman explained. “We want to get some footage made up, some deeper footage we can use for 10 years down the road.”

Chapman said the Garden receives a lot of outreach from video production companies who want to be hired to film promotional material. This year, a company made a positive impression and they are moving forward.

“They can do these films that can go on US and Canadian cable TV and web versions. They make a five minute piece that can be picked up by stations.”

As well as the film itself, the company will be shooting the whole day of  July 30, with footage going to the Peace Garden. As they hired them, the Garden will decide where the shooting will take place, who they will talk to – staff and supporters – and this will be used by the Garden for their own promotions. Chapman said it could be for something as simple as a small feature on their website.

“The way the internet has changed, if you have good footage, you can cut it up for 15 second clips, or still pictures. It will make a nice library of film to access.”

There will be some new faces on the International Peace Garden Board of Directors, including some we will not know until later in the month.

The Peace Garden is in the middle of voting for board members. As CEO Tim Chapman explained, they have eight seats up for election this year. Terms are three years in length and staggered, with five from Canada, three from the US due in 2026.

“In the last few years, the board expanded its membership from 16 to 18 members,” Chapman explained. “It is just in the bylaws that they can go up to 20 members. It was a board decision, and there was a lot of interest.”

This year, there are five possibilities for the three US seats, with Chapman commenting there is not always a contested election. Carmen Simone, Nancy Olson, Marlys Carlson, Murray Sagsveen and Clay Jenkinson, all with varied board experience, are running for the seats south of the 49th

In Canada, there are only four candidates for the five seats. This means that the declared candidates will be filling spots on the board. Sotirios Kotoulas, an honourary consul for Greece with the province of Manitoba, and former protocol chief for Manitoba Dwight MacAuley will be returning for another term. MacAuley is well known in the area as he is originally from Killarney and spent many years working with CJRB Radio in Boissevain.

For seniors on both sides of the border, the International Peace Garden will be brightening up your winter Wednesdays very soon.

Free Senior Wednesdays at the border attraction have begun, where those 55+ can come in and enjoy the Conservatory without charge. Starting February 11, there will be specific programming for visitors every second week until the beginning of April. According to Peace Garden CEO Tim Chapman, they are looking forward to getting the ball rolling.

“We’re pretty excited,” Chapman stated, “Last year was the first year we did this. To be able to continue this program is a way for us to give back to our communities.”

He explained that the idea arose from the unique situation at the garden. With their conservatory of cacti and succulents, they have an oasis of green during a period of white and grey. This gives it a special role in keeping people’s spirits up, particularly during long winters. He added they are fortunate to have Deb McCallum as their program coordinator. Her education background is perfect for creating short programs to keep people engaged.

“It’s a blast to see people come out here in the winter time, and we hope to share this with more people. Each year it picks up steam, and with the rapport we build with seniors homes that have buses to come down, the better it will be.”