Author: Kate Hamilton

The Southern Terminus of the Great Divide Trail, where it meets the Continental Divide Trail and our neighbors to the south, is located within the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. On November 22, we join together in celebrating International Peace Pole Day.

What Peace Poles Stand For

The first Peace Pole was erected  in 1976 Japan based on the ideas of Masahisa Goi. The first one  in North America was in 1983 in California. Every Peace Pole has May Peace Prevail on Earth in 4 to 8 languages.

“May Peace Prevail On Earth is an all-inclusive message. It is a meeting place of the heart, bringing together people of all faiths, backgrounds, and cultures to embrace the oneness of our planetary family.”

There is over 250,000 Peace Poles around the world dedicated as monuments to peace. “Planting a Peace Pole is a way of bringing people together to inspire, awaken and uplift the human consciousness the world over. It is a wonderful project for any community, organization, or your home. Peace Poles are now recognized as the most prominent international symbol and monument to peace. They remind us to think, speak, and act in the spirit of peace and harmony, and they stand as a silent visual for peace to prevail on earth. Each pole is engraved with 4 or 8 languages which all state, “May Peace Prevail On Earth”.

For more information; https://www.peacepoleproject.org/  and https://rotarypeacepoles.world/

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association

In 1931, in Waterton close to 100 Rotarians from Canada and the United States assembled. Looking south from Alberta to Montana from the Prince of Wales Hotel, one Rotarian observed, “Where no border can be seen, no border should exist.” Just one year later, in 1932, both the Canadian and United States governments agreed to create the worlds first International Peace Park.

Today, there are an estimated 265 international peace parks in the world. The Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association has set a goal of 100 additional Peace Poles in the four-member Rotary Districts (Kootenays British Columbia, Alberta, Montana, and Idaho) for our 100^th anniversary in 2032.  For more; https://www.watertonglacierpeacepark.org/

Pledge Of Peace

​ We invite you, your community, and your Rotary Club to;

1. Place a Peace Pole in your community, and
2. share the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association’s Pledge of Peace;

“In the name of all we hold sacred, we will not take up arms against each other. We will work for peace, maintain liberty, strive for freedom, and demand equal opportunities for all. May the long existing peace between our nations stimulate other peoples to follow this example”

In our current world, we seek positive peace between all nations.

by David B. Savage

Rotary Club of Cranbrook (British Columbia, Canada) and

Waterton Glacier International Peace Park Association (Canada and the United States)

Looking for the perfect gift for the trail lover in your life, or a way to bring a little wilderness inspiration into your home? The Great Divide Trail 2026 Calendars and Special Edition Wall Maps are now available for pre-sale until December 1, 2025! 

The Special Edition Great Divide Trail Wall Map was carefully and lovingly created by GDTA volunteer Brad “Blue Magi” Maguire, capturing the beauty and scale of the GDT. This stunning 16” x 36” map not only showcases the trail’s spectacular terrain but also helps support the GDTA’s mission to protect, promote, and maintain the Great Divide Trail for generations to come. 

The 2026 Great Divide Trail Calendar features breathtaking images submitted by trail users through the GDTA’s annual photo contest: a celebration of the places, people, and moments that make the GDT unforgettable. 

Every purchase supports the Great Divide Trail Association, a registered charity powered by passionate volunteers working to keep the trail wild and sustainable. 

Visit https://geartrade.ca/collections/great-divide-trail-association to get your map and calendar today!

Direct link to calendars

Direct link to maps 

Pre-sale ends December 1 — don’t miss out! 

Are you wondering what’s happening with the crossing over the Blaeberry River in Section D? 

The Blaeberry Crossing Project has been a labour of love, and one of the GDTA’s top safety priorities, for the past four years. This work is essential to improving hiker safety and maintaining connectivity through the Blaeberry Valley, a remote and rugged stretch of the Great Divide Trail located northeast of Golden, BC. 

Currently, a temporary log bridge spans the Blaeberry River near its confluence with Cairnes Creek. While this structure has allowed hikers to cross safely in the short term, it’s not expected to last much longer, and possibly not even through the coming spring. 

Originally, the GDTA had planned to construct a permanent aluminum bridge at this site. However, after extensive engineering review and close collaboration with Recreation Sites & Trails BC (RSTBC), the vision has evolved into something truly remarkable—a cable car aerial ferry crossing, the first of its kind on the Great Divide Trail and one of the most ambitious backcountry infrastructure projects ever undertaken by the GDTA. Once complete, it will not only ensure a safe and reliable river crossing but also offer an unforgettable experience for backcountry users traveling through this wild and scenic valley. 

In spring 2025, RSTBC generously provided the major components for a cable car system, along with a $5,000 contribution toward the project. Together, the GDTA and RSTBC are now working through the final design, engineering, and approval processes required to move forward. 

As part of this effort, the GDTA has also applied for a Section 57 authorization to rehabilitate and maintain Collie Creek Historic Trail, which RSTBC has circulated for review and is now awaiting a final decision. This authorization would allow the GDTA to undertake trail restoration, maintenance, and improvements under a formal agreement with RSTBC—similar to the authorization established for the David Thompson Heritage Trail. This partnership ensures that historic routes in the region are maintained safely and sustainably, while preserving their cultural and recreational value. 

The Collie Creek Historic Trail project complements the cable car initiative, reconnecting historic travel routes within the Blaeberry Valley and enhancing safe, continuous access through this stunning and historically significant area. 

While the cable car represents an exciting advancement for the Great Divide Trail, it also comes at a higher cost than originally anticipated—approximately $50,000 more than the original bridge proposal. As a volunteer-driven, charitable organization, the GDTA will be working hard to fundraise and secure additional support to cover these costs. 

A huge thank-you goes out to the incredible volunteers leading this effort, and to Recreation Sites & Trails BC, whose ongoing commitment to a safe, sustainable crossing has been instrumental in moving the project forward. 

Another incredible weekend at the Banff Mountain Film Fest! The GDTA set up our beautiful booth at the BMFF Marketplace from November 7–9, returning once again for a weekend of connections. 

This event always proves to be an excellent opportunity to promote both the Great Divide Trail and the Great Divide Trail Association. We spoke with many people who have hiked the GDT, those planning future adventures, and several who are excited to begin volunteering with us. 

We also launched a special BMFF membership promotion: anyone who became a new GDTA member during the event was entered to win a set of Durston Iceline Poles, generously donated by Durston Gear to support the GDTA, as well as the new Special Edition GDT Wall Map, lovingly created by one of our amazing volunteers, Brad “Blue Magi” Maguire. This initiative brought in 16 new members, and we’re thrilled to welcome them into our growing community. Congratulations to Kelsey Demmings, the winner of this OUTSTANDING prize! 

Thank you to everyone who stopped by the booth to say hello! We are always grateful for the support, enthusiasm, and stories shared by the GDT community. 

A huge thank-you to Durston Gear for donating the Iceline poles, and to our incredible volunteers who spent their weekend at the booth educating visitors about the GDT and representing the GDTA with so much passion: Charlene Deck, Kaylee Thomson, Doug Hollinger, Meaghan Underhill, Jenn Glover, David Mulligan, and Dale Keller. We couldn’t do this without you!