Latest news with #ElbowsUpForCanada
National Post
7 days ago
- Politics
- National Post
Hundreds of Americans turn out for 'Elbows Up for Canada' rally
In an effort to show Canadians that many Americans value the relationship between the two countries, hundreds of North Country residents came out to the 'Elbows Up for Canada' rally in Ogdensburg, N.Y. Saturday afternoon. Article content A number of signs, red T-shirts and Canadian flags could be seen in front of Ogdensburg City Hall as many upstate New York residents showed their support for their Canadian friends across the river. Article content Article content 'It's been heartening to see the enthusiasm, and the crowd has been wonderful,' said Ginger Storey-Welch, one of the organizers of the rally. 'We wanted to show Canadians that we care about them and value them.' Article content Article content Article content Overall, approximately 200 Americans showed up to the rally, many with signs and T-shirts that were Canadian-themed. Article content One of those people was Pat Kingsley, who wanted to support the cause and have her voice heard. Article content 'What Candians have been hearing from our administration is not what's in our hearts,' she said. 'Canadians have always treated us fabulously.' The rally was meant as a display of friendship amid the ongoing trade war between the United States and Canada, and U.S. President Donald Trump's repeated remarks suggesting Canada should become the 51st state. Article content The event began at 1 p.m. at Ogdensburg City Hall, where organizers got the rally going on a sunny Saturday afternoon. Article content Along with everyday Americans, there were a few local officials who attended the rally and shared some words. Article content Article content The first speaker was Josh Pearlman, who spoke on behalf of senior New York Senator Chuck Schumer. Article content 'For generations, the United States and Canada have been close friends and staunch allies, boasting a relationship between neighbouring countries that is simply unrivaled anywhere else on the planet,' read Senator Schumer's letter. 'Recent events have strained that friendship, and unsurprisingly, it's already hurting North Country communities.' Article content Article content After Pearlman, Blake Gendebien shared some words over the loudspeaker; he is the congressional candidate for New York's 21st District, an area that covers most of the North Country. Article content Gendebien also emphasized the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and Canada, Article content 'For over 200 years, our relationship has been deeply shaped by geography, trade, security and cross-cultural exchange,' said Gendebien in his speech. 'These are not Democrat or Republican issues, they're local issues that affect everyone.'
CBC
02-07-2025
- Politics
- CBC
American behind pro-Canada rallies says 'most Canadian thing ever'... 'we're sorry' about Trump
Kate Powers "felt shame" when she first heard U.S. President Donald Trump talking about annexing Canada. Powers said she was born and raised in western New York in the Buffalo-Niagara Falls area. "Growing up, Canada was the backyard [with] trips to Toronto, trips to the Shaw Festival, trips to Stratford, family vacations in cottage country up on Georgian Bay," Powers told CBC Hamilton. "So, the idea to me that the president of the United States would get to a place where he would say we're going to annex Canada as the 51st state, to me is appalling. And I felt shame when I heard him first start talking this way." Powers is a co-organizer of a series of rallies from the Pacific to the Atlantic, from Alaska to Vermont to London, England, celebrating the longstanding friendship between the United States and Canada. Known as the 'Elbows Up for Canada' movement, the rally organizers represent a coalition of American and Canadian advocacy groups. Rallies are planned for July 5, including in Buffalo, N.Y. and Detroit, Mich. Powers said people with some small "grassroots groups" in Windsor, Ont., and in Ottawa will be participating in the rallies. One of the rallies is actually going to be sort of in the middle of the St. Lawrence River … so, folks in Canoes and kayaks and paddle boards from the United States and Canada are going to meet up just in the river across from Prescott, Ont.," she said. "They'll be at the great Canadian flag right down by the water in Windsor, and then there will be an event in Detroit directly across from them." 'Citizens on both sides want to build bridges, not walls' "In an era when division seems to dominate headlines, we want to show that the spirit of friendship and cooperation is alive and well along our shared border," Detroit-based co-organizer Audrey Bourriaud said. "These rallies prove that ordinary citizens on both sides want to build bridges, not walls." Powers gave credit to "the women in Quebec who made the human chain in February to oppose fascism," for the initial inspiration for the rallies. "I turned to my husband and I said we should do that across one of the bridges in Niagara Falls," she said. On Trump's so-called 'Liberation Day,' on April 2, when "he was announcing all of these arbitrary and capricious tariffs," Powers said the first "counter programming" rally was held in the shadow of the Peace Bridge in Buffalo. She said dozens of people turned out in "freezing rain [and] howling wind" to stand in solidarity with Canada. "We waved our flags and we sang the Canadian National anthem as loud as we could for them, although I'm sure they couldn't hear it across the river," Powers said. We want our Canadian friends to know that we're still friends, that regardless of the vitriol coming out of the White House, the predatory threats, that we love and respect Canada as a sovereign nation. Powers said the upcoming rallies have several goals. "The first one is to say to you … to everybody in Canada, the most Canadian thing ever — to say we're sorry," she said. "I know a lot of Canadians are hurt, are angry, are frustrated, are scared, and I don't blame them. It's important to me that folks understand that there's more than 300 million people in the United States and only 70 million people voted for Donald Trump … and a lot of us are just appalled and we are doing everything we can, but we do feel like we're dancing in quicksand right now around a lot of issues. "We want our Canadian friends to know that we're still friends, that regardless of the vitriol coming out of the White House, the predatory threats, that we love and respect Canada as a sovereign nation," Powers added. Additionally, Powers said Americans in general have not forgotten the numerous times that Canada has shown up for the U.S. as a good neighbour. "We are grateful to Canada for the ways that it has shown up for us at Normandy during the Civil War, after [the] September 11 [terrorist attacks], to fight the fires in California earlier this year," she said. "We respect your sovereignty, we respect the long-standing relationship and we understand that the trust has been broken and we're going to work to repair it. "We really want to counter the narrative that it's the most natural thing ever that the United States should annex Canada or, like he said earlier this week, that Canada is a nasty country to negotiate with. We know that that's not true, so we want to counter that narrative, and if we cannot reach him, we want to at least reach all of the governors on the northern border of the United States to say we might need to make our own arrangements with Canada," added Powers. In June, five Canadian premiers, including Ontario's Doug Ford, visited Boston at the invitation of some northeastern U.S. governors to try to forge alliances against Trump's tariffs. Ford was joined by fellow premiers Tim Houston of Nova Scotia, Susan Holt of New Brunswick, Rob Lantz of P.E.I. and John Hogan of Newfoundland and Labrador for a day of meetings at Massachusetts State House with the governors of seven states or their delegates. Speaking to reporters while in the U.S., Ford said he'd spoken to leaders from around the world who are "dumbfounded" by Trump's rhetoric. "We're in disbelief too, but now we're going to build forward," he said. Earlier this year, Canadians across the country were boycotting American products and cancelling vacations plans to the U.S. Those sentiments may not be as potent now, but for many the sentiment lingers. Yao Ameyaw told CBC News he's still avoiding spending money south of the border.
National Post
27-06-2025
- Politics
- National Post
Americans living near the Canada-U.S. border to hold 'Elbows Up for Canada' rally
In an act of solidarity toward their northern neighbours, some Upstate New York residents are organizing an 'Elbows Up for Canada' rally. Article content Residents who live near the Canada-U.S. border have organized this movement in an attempt to strengthen ties with Canadians. The event will take place on July 5. Article content Article content Dubbed the 'Friendship Flotilla,' it will see the Americans taking part boating along the St. Lawrence River with Canadian and American flags, as well as signs showing their support for Canada. Article content 'Every day we look across the St. Lawrence River and we see friends, family members, and business partners,' said Eileen Jarrett, one of the organizers of the rally. 'We hope this rally will remind everyone of our friendship.' Article content Article content Rally-goers will then head to Morrisette Park – those with boats will take the Friendship Flotilla across the St. Lawrence River from the Ogdensburg Marina to Fort Wellington in Prescott, and those without boats will stay at the park and wave across. Article content The boaters will then split and head to both Brockville and Morrisburg to bring the flotilla to the other major Canadian border towns in the area. Article content Organizers of the event are encouraging residents of Prescott to gather on the Heritage River Trail walking path at 2 p.m. to see the flotilla and greet the rally-goers. Article content Article content This movement aims to show Canadians that not all Americans agree with President Donald Trump's threats against Canada's sovereignty, and many want to extend an olive branch to their neighbours across the river. Article content 'Our countries share family ties, with many dual citizens and cross-border families, along with shared values of democracy, diversity, and human rights,' said Jarrett. 'Organizers emphasize that the movement is positive, focused on celebrating what unites rather than protesting what divides. The rallies aim to demonstrate the grassroots support for continued U.S.-Canada co-operation across economic, environmental, and security issues.' Article content Jarrett hopes that a number of North Country residents will come and join the movement, although she is unsure of the number of people who will take part in the rally. Article content Even though this event begins at City Hall, Ogdensburg Mayor Michael Tooley says the city itself is not directly involved. Article content 'This is not a city-sponsored event and there's no official role for the city to participate in this,' said Tooley. 'But I've spoken with the mayors of Brockville and Prescott and we all agreed to support the concept of supporting friendships between our citizens.'
