Tulip surprise revealed in spring

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Published on Thursday, May 26, 2016

By Sheila Runions

Banner Staff

Last September, Rivers Legion Ladies Auxiliary were informed they were one of 140 Canadian communities to be awarded a Dutch-Canadian friendship tulip garden. The gardens celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first gift of 100,000 tulips sent to Canada in 1945. The bulbs were given as appreciation for the role Canadian soldiers played in the liberation of Holland, and the hospitality Canada provided to the Dutch royal family so their princess could be born in protection rather than war. Canada even went so far as to declare dual nationality so Princess Margriet would have Dutch citizenship, not Canadian citizenship.

Canadian Garden Council co-ordinated the garden program and more than 400 applications were received by groups/towns hoping to be awarded free tulips. Rivers was one of four Manitoba communities to have their application approved and the auxiliary was given two weeks notice to rototill the beds and have everything prepared for the bulbs’ arrival. While most of the 700 bulbs (350 each of red and white) were planted on Oct. 6, a planting ceremony on Oct. 7 involved area auxiliaries, veterans, school children and campaigning politicians. At that time, it was announced they “took some creative licence and tried to plant something, but it will be a surprise until spring when you see our design.” The design was a Canadian flag.

A bloom celebration was held the morning of Wednesday, May 25 in which Kenton and Oak Lake auxiliaries, Rivers branch and auxiliary members, school students and a few community citizens were present. Following the short speech of thanks by co-ordinator Donna Morken, coffee, cookies and juice were served in the upper hall. It appears as if all 700 bulbs, which were shipped to Rivers from Charlottetown, PEI have bloomed; as Morken, said, “We are really pleased; the tulips have turned out gorgeous.”