The following text is the story of the The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park as remembered by George Adam, Secretary Treasurer (1995-1997), Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Association.
THE WATERTON-GLACIER INTERNATIONAL PEACE PARK
ESTABLISHED JUNE 18, 1932
SPONSORED BY ROTARY DISTRICTS:
5360 (5370) - Alberta, Western Saskatchewan and Northern British Columbia, Canada
5390 - Montana, United States of America
AN HISTORICAL BRIEF
The government of Canada and the government of the United States by uniting the National Park areas in the Province of Alberta and the State of Montana under the name of the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, have added another golden line to the story of harmonious relationships which have continued between the two countries for a century. The assembling and association of citizens of neighbouring countries in an atmosphere of beauty such as that of the new International Peace Park must inevitably strengthen a friendship which has stood the test of time.
The establishment of the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park is essentially a Rotary project. At the first annual goodwill meeting fostered by the Cardston Rotary Club at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton Lakes Park, on Saturday, July 4, 1931, between the Rotarians of Alberta and Montana, the following resolution was presented for consideration and carried unanimously.
Moved by Rev. Canon S. U. Middleton, Cardston, and seconded by Harry B. Mitchell, Great Falls:
"Whereas one hundred members of the Rotary Clubs, representing the cities of Cardston,Lethbridge, and Calgary of Alberta; Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoulaof Montana; and Estevan, Saskatchewan, are assembled together attending an international meeting at the WatertonLakes National Park.
"Whereas, it has been decided that a similar annual meeting beheld alternately at Glacier Park Montana and Waterton Park, Alberta.
“Therefore, be itresolved that the proper authorities be petitioned to commence Negotiations to establish the two parks indicated as a permanent International Peace Park which shall be definitely set aside for this laudable purpose.
"Pledging our loyalty and allegiance to foster all International Relationships.”
Negotiations were immediately commenced with the local representatives of the governments concerned. Brig. General J.S. Steward (C.M.G., D.S.O., M.P.) for Alberta and the Hon. Scott Leavitt for Montana. Bills were duly presented during the 1932 session before the Federal Government, Washington, and the Dominion Government, Ottawa, both Houses working separately and co jointly in their respective spheres, which resulted in the official proclamation that the two parks be henceforth designated as the "Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park."
In consequence thereof, the first International Peace Park in the world was dedicated with impressive ceremonies at Glacier Park, Montana, on June 18. Two thousand people witnessed the program which linked up Glacier Park on the South and Waterton Park on the North. At this time was demonstrated a feeling of peace and goodwill between the Nations that will be long remembered.
Sponsored by Rotary International, the event was significant in every aspect. Its importance was emphasized by the attendance of statesmen from the United States and Canada while messages of greeting came from the national capitals.
President Hoover of the United States, in a message read during the ceremony said,
"Dedication of the Waterton Glacier International Park is a further gesture of the goodwill that has so long blessed our relations with our Canadian neighbours and I am gratified by the hope and faith that it will forever be an appropriate symbol of permanent peace and friendship."
Prime Minister R.B. Bennett of Canada wrote,
"I send sincere congratulations and good wishes on the occasion of the dedication. The relations between Canada and the United States has so long been characterized not only by that peace which is the foundation of our two democracies but by mutual respect and friendship. It is my earnest hope that this great International Peace Park, stretching across our common frontier and in which citizens of both our countries may seek recreation, may forever remain a permanent memorial of all that neighbourly relations should be between adjoining nations."
The Rotarians mainly responsible for the dedication programme were Canon S. R. Middleton of Cardston and Harry B. Mitchell of Great Falls, chairmen of the Alberta and Montana committees respectively. During the service a bronze tablet inscribed,
"PERMANENTLY OMMEMORATING THE RELATIONSHIP OF PEACE AND GOODWILL BETWEEN THE PEOPLES AND GOVERNMENTS OF CANADA AND THEUNITED STATES"
was unveiled and dedicated at Glacier Park Hotel with appropriate ceremony.
A similar service of international importance was held at the Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton Park, 1952 when a similar Memorial Cairn was duly dedicated.
Thanksgiving Service, commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the creation of the Peace Park was held at the Boundary Cairns on Sunday, July 28, 1957. Canon Middleton, who had been President since the founding of the Peace Park retired and was elected President Emeritus. D. Gordon Rognlien of Kalispell was elected his successor for a two year term of office. The office of President was passed to a Canadian Rotarian, Harvey Greenway of the Manchester Rotary Club (Calgary South) was elected for the years 1959-1961.
On July 26, 1959, a special international service was held to dedicate a plaque to Canon Middleton for his efforts towards establishing international peace and goodwill. Mr. Harold J. Thomas, President of Rotary International, took part in the ceremony. Archdeacon Swanson of St. Paul's Church, Toronto, Ontario, was the principal speaker.
The Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park comprises an area of 1,720-square-miles and is replete with an array of unsurpassed glory. Here we find tremendous mountains with carved cirques in which the snows and glaciers of countless ages are encompassed. Here is the backbone of the continent and the little and big beginnings of things; here, huddled close together aretiny streams, which league to the north, the south and the west, flow as mighty rivers into Hudson's Bay, the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. Here peak after peak, named or un-named, rear their sawtooth edges to the clouds; three score glaciers are slowly and silently grinding away at their epochal task; three hundred lakes in valley and mountain pockets give back to the sky its blue, grey, or green; half a thousand waterfalls cascade from perpetual snow in misty torrents of milk-white traceries. Here indeed are riches. There are other canyons as deep, other mountains as high, but those who have roamed the world with open eyes say earnestly that there is no other place where nature has so condensed her wonders and run riot with such utter abandon.
The cloud formations at nearly all times during the summer months are remarkably beautiful. Their splendid massing above the great peaks like new and loftier ranges, their purple shadows marching across the coloured slopes, their snowy foam shaping and reshaping in reflection through the blue surface of the lakes gives a special grace to the loveliness of the region. For artists and nature lovers the contrast between these impermanent cloud shapes - "these angels of a flying day" - that gather and float along the lower slopes; this aerial architecture that melts and vanishes even as one gazes at the eternal unchanging nature of the peaks, constitutes one of the greatest charms of the landscape in this International Park.
The whole region has about it something indescribable. Perhaps the imminent presence which broods over it, and which is universally felt may best be described as peace.
George Adam, Secretary Treasurer (1995-1997)
Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park Association