Every fall, thousands of tulips are planted across the country in different towns and cities to recognize the role veterans played in the liberation of the Netherlands. This year, Edmonton was one of the chosen ones.
A garden of 700 red and white tulips will emblazon the grounds of Edmonton’s Dutch Canadian Club this spring to symbolize our international friendship with the Netherlands. The garden is a symbolic gesture of gratitude from the Dutch recognizing the role Canada played in the Second World War when it helped to liberate the Netherlands, and for the hospitality shown to the Dutch Royal Family while they sought refuge from the war.
The bulbs were gifted to the City of Edmonton and the Edmonton Horticultural Society by the Canadian Garden Society through the Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden program, and were planted on October 22.
“The garden represents an enduring international and local friendship with the Dutch community. It will help to serve as a yearly reminder of our global ties with other nations and the history that we share,” said Nicole Fraser, Management Supervisor, Community Services. “As a city, we feel extremely honoured to have been chosen as a recipient.”
Frank Stolk, President of Edmonton’s Dutch Cultural Centre agreed, “This garden is a legacy. It’s a majestic monument which we are proud to showcase here at the centre for the enjoyment of current and future generations, reminding both of Edmonton’s and Canada’s global ties.”
Edmonton is one of 140 communities out of 400 applications to receive a garden from the Canadian Garden Council, the organization behind the Friendship Tulip Garden program. The gifting tradition began in 1945 with 100,000 tulips being sent to Ottawa and has continued every year since. With this year as the Seventieth Anniversary, the Canadian Garden Council decided to make it a national event.
The national garden, called the 70th Anniversary Dutch-Canadian Friendship Tulip Garden, will be planted in Ottawa this fall by the National Capital Commission. It will be showcased during the 2016 Canadian Tulip Festival.
