This op-ed was published earlier this month in the Minneapolis Star Tribune.
Back in 2004, my husband and I began exploring the idea of leaving Minneapolis-St. Paul in the United States and moving to Nanaimo. We each had our own (partly overlapping) reasons. I was drawn to the Island’s natural beauty and was concerned that the growing political polarization in the U.S. would only worsen over time. (Got that one right, eh?) We’ve lived in Nanaimo for years now, and are both dual citizens. Vancouver Island is my geographic soulmate and Canada feels like home.
Since moving, I’ve visited the U.S. often and have always felt good about the relationship between my two countries. But starting around, oh I’d say the end of January, things changed. The news of tariffs, along with the threats to make Canada the 51st state, have greatly damaged that relationship. As an American, I feel a mix of embarrassment, guilt, fear and profound sadness. As a Canadian, I feel a deep sense of betrayal.
With so much negative news, I was relieved when I could focus on something positive. In March, during the worst of the annexation threats, local resident Tod Maffin made a TikTok video, inviting “Americans who support Canada” to come visit Nanaimo on a specific April weekend, to spend their dollars here in Canada, and to show they care. Well, hundreds came, from as far away as Minnesota, Florida, New York and Texas. And lots of Nanaimoites were there to greet them.
Two friends of mine set up a ‘welcoming’ table where locals could adopt an American for the weekend. (My ‘adoptee’ has become a friend.) Nanaimoites dropped off Canadian candy bars for the visitors. A New Yorker brought dozens of fridge magnets he had designed – one was the number 51 with a line through it. And two women from Washington state stopped by with extra ‘Apology Tour’ buttons they’d made, which were quickly scooped up by other Americans, who saw a great way to express their embarrassment.
We all hung out together, discussions went deep quickly and there were hugs all around.
As part of the celebration, the Americans and Canadians had our ‘family photo’ taken together. When the photographer asked the Americans in the crowd to raise their hands, half the people did. It was then that I started to cry. I realized that I have been feeling like a child whose parents are getting divorced and there is nothing I can do to stop it. But at that moment, it felt like my family was back together, bringing hope for the future.
Over that spring weekend in Nanaimo, a group of ordinary Americans and Canadians came together to create something powerful and, along with it, a sense of healing during this difficult time.
So heck, if any Minnesotans feel like planning their own group trip up to, say, Winnipeg, please do it. Strengthening our cross-border connections now – person to person – really matters.
And perhaps Sen. Amy Klobuchar can share this hopeful grassroots story with her fellow lawmakers, to inspire more of them to take strong action – as she recently has – to show their support for (as the lyrics of O Canada say) the "true north, strong and free.”
Laurie Kersten worked as a creative process facilitator and in advertising in Minneapolis-St. Paul.
editor@nanaimobulletin.com
