A ceremony celebrating co-operation between Canada and the United States was held just hours after a trade deal between both countries fell apart.
The installation of a plaque recognizing the United States–Canada International Boundary Survey, and the world’s longest international border was unveiled on Saturday in Campobello Island, N.B., at the Mulholland Point Lighthouse.
The lighthouse, which sits within Roosevelt Campobello International Park, overlooks Lubec, Maine and the Franklin D. Roosevelt International Bridge -- the easternmost land crossing along the 8,892 kilometre boundary.
The plaque’s placement has been in the works for several years, in partnership with the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering and the American Society of Civil Engineers.
“Everybody kind of jumped really quick and thought this was the perfect location,” said Benjamin Smith, president-elect for the Maine section of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
The plaque on Campobello Island is the first of several to be placed along the Canada-U.S. boundary.
“It’s quite an achievement and we forget that amongst the politics, if you will,” said Bruce Higgins, a member of the Canadian Society for Civil Engineering’s national history committee.
The timing of the plaque’s installation, during one of the most contentious moments to be recorded in Canada-U.S. relations, was subtly noted a few times during the ceremony, However, it wasn’t made a focus.
“It’s a very fitting time to actually go ahead with this,” said Jon Southern, superintendent of Roosevelt Campobello International Park, which commemorates the Canadian summer home of U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
“I think the world needs to hear about the fact that people are continuing to get along. This represents all the values of this park. It represents unity, friendship, and mutual respect which is something we have at the park, with American and Canadian employees working side-by-side.”
Roosevelt Campobello International Park is the only park in the world jointly administered, staffed, and funded by two countries.
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