While the society managed to restore parts of the cemetery in the early years of its management, the real work commenced in 1996, after the Taipei County Government designated the cemetery a heritage site.
That year, the Canadian Society undertook further restoration projects at the site. The projects saw the outer walls rebuilt. The wall that divides the Tamsui Foreign Cemetery from the MacKay family plot, which sits on the grounds of the Tamkang High School, was reduced to its original height. A new, more robust gate was placed at the entrance of the cemetery.
Although the plot was designated a heritage site, much of the funding for restoration work continued to come from individuals, representative offices of governments whose nationals are buried there, and corporations.
"I don't know the exact cost of the cemetery project, as it has been ongoing over several years with several different directors taking responsibility, but I believe we have spent around NT$1.5 million over the past six or seven years on the restoration project," stated the Canadian Society's, Michael Hurst.
With the restoration project almost complete the society suffered a setback in the wake of the 921 Earthquake. A large banyan tree that once stood on the cemetery's west verge collapsed and damaged a number of the gravestones. One grave was so badly damaged that relatives of the deceased traveled to Taiwan to oversee the repair work.
"On hearing what had happened the relative of the German merchant laid to rest there, an artist living in California, came over and set about restoring the tomb using bricks and tiles similar to those of the original," said Geddes.
The final phase of the cemetery restoration, which took place in July and August last year and saw the cemetery's southern wall and adjoining buildings rebuilt, was funded by the Tamkang High School. Funding that, thanks to the generosity of both individuals and corporations, is to be reimbursed to the school during a special ceremony to coincide with this year's Tomb-Sweeping Day.
While the cemetery has been returned to its former glory and is more than ready to play host to today's events, the use of herbicides by overzealous ground-staff has meant that it will be some time before grass makes a reappearance. According to Geddes, however, this problem will soon be dealt with.
"We plan to put sod down one day, but as for when, well, its an expensive process and one that will take quite a bit of work," he said. "But looking at it today, even with the problems caused by herbicides, the cemetery is once again a fitting place for the memory of those early pioneers in Taiwan."
The Canadian Society's 20th Anniversary Tomb-Sweeping Event is open to the general public and will begin at 9:45am this morning. At roughly 11:30am a small ceremony to celebrate the completion of the restoration project and brief historical tour of the area will take place.
The cemetery is located about 20 minutes walk from the Tamsui MRT station and is best approached from the rear of Tamkang Middle School via Lane 3, Chenli Street, Tamsui (
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