No matter the rates, commercial wars or the political threats of the day, when the Sun is put every night, the shared Niagaras of Canada and America will continue to enlighten themselves as one.
“I hope that symbolizes that these two countries really have both in common, so much that sharing and that our mutual respect and admiration of falls is a reflection of how we should really be among us,” said Mayor Robert Restinoaino, Mayor Subtino.
He and his counterpart through the river, Niagara Falls, Ontario, Mayor Jim Diodati, are two of the 18 members of the Niágara cataract lighting board.
The Canadian-American collaboration of age ensures that the most powerful and iconic waterfalls of the continent are flooded with the bright and changing color 365 days of the year.
Together, Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side, and US falls and the fallow of the Niágara cataracts.
After months of the economic threats of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, makes fun of making Canada a state 51 and the uncertainty that everything causes, Diodati said that the cross -border community is feeling the tension.
“We have so much history, so many relationships and economy intertwined that when something like this happens, it’s hurtful. Short,” said Diodati.
600 Business Export from Niagara to the US.
Fort Erie, Ontario, Mayor Wayne Redekop said that residents of the Niagara region fear what US tariffs would mean for jobs and costs.
He spoke with Ramraajh Sharvendiran, host of CBC’s Right nowEarlier this week. He said that there are around 600 companies in the region that export to the US, using 30,000 people, who could be affected by Trump’s tariffs. But they also have friends and family who live nearby, on the other side of the border.
“More than anything, we don’t want people to face each other,” said Redekop.
Look | Niagara Falls, Ontario, response to the tariff threat:
As of Tuesday, the president of the United States, Donald Trump, plans to impose a 25 percent rate on most imported Canadian goods. The city of the Niagara cataracts is one of the many regions that feel along the United Canadian-United States border that is concerned about economic and personal impacts. Naama Weingarten de CBC has the story.
Diodati told CBC Hamilton on Friday that the message he has heard from his American counterparts at the lighting board, and in other offices, has been resounding.
“This is not the American people, this is the president doing politics,” he said.
“The lights will continue to shine in the cataracts, and these two great nations will continue to be close friends and allies.”
Tradition dates back to the nineteenth century
Niagara Falls first lit up in 1860 with 200 lights hung along the rocks below to honor the visiting prince of Wales, becoming a tradition for special occasions.
To do the official practice, the Niágara cataract lighting board formed on February 24, 1925.
The Board is composed of representatives of the cataract cities of Niagara, local electrical authorities and the New York and Ontario parks departments, which meet quarterly. They are responsible for financing, operating and maintaining the lights.
His work is often done in silence. Diodati said he didn’t even know that the Board existed until he was elected mayor for the first time a decade ago.
“I simply thought that the lights in the falls miraculously lit every night, you know?” said.
Behind the scene, the Board, composed of half American, half Canadians, is busy reviewing the lighting requests of charitable organizations.
“It is tremendously refreshing to see the government at so many levels on both sides of the river to work together to do the best,” said Subsino. “We should write [Trump] A letter and say: ‘Hey, come to a meeting, see how we get along.’ ”
Applications range from brand awareness days to holiday to global events.
For 15 minutes on March 15, the cataracts will be bluish green to recognize the impacts of Long Covid and on March 17, they will be green for San Patricio’s Day, says the Niagara Park website. When Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, the cataracts illuminated in yellow and blue in support of Ukraine, said Diodati.
The next time the Board meets, Subtaino and Dodati said they will present a United Canadian issue as a declaration of solidarity.
“I think it’s a brilliant idea,” said Diodati.
