Months after the invitation of the social networks of a British columbia man to the Americans went viral, hundreds presented themselves in Nanaimo, BC, during the weekend to show their support to Canada.
Tod Maffin raised the idea to the Americans in February, publishing a video to Tiktok in which he encouraged them to visit their hometown of Nanaimo on the island of Vancouver, and thousands of people responded with interest.
His goal, said Maffin, was to create a bridge between the two countries at a time when the repeated threats of the president of the United States, Donald Trump, to make Canada the State 51 and the current tariff war, had increased political tensions.
During the weekend, hundreds of Americans took Maffin in their offer and made the trip through the border to attend Nanaimo Infusion, a festival created specifically to welcome new visitors.
Many of them apologized and expressed their support for Canada.
“I don’t want a commercial war with Canada. I don’t want to increase tensions through the border … We are all people who only try to live our lives, regardless of what people on top are trying to do,” said American Tom Schnetter.
Schnetter and his friend Zach Prigger are from Washington State, but said it is their first time in Canada.
“As things continue to progress, it’s like seeing a trains clash, you know?” Schnetter said about the actions of the president of the United States. “As, where, when will this end? When do you stop?
“Things will take a long time to return to the way they were, if they ever do it,” he added. “You know, it’s as they say: if nails nails in a fence, even if you take it out, the fence still has holes.”
The Americans are descending in Nanaimo this weekend, after a local resident turned to social networks to invite them to visit the city of BC as a sign of solidarity with Canada. Liam Britten of CBC went to Nanaimo to talk to visitors.
Festival draw hundreds
Maffin, a digital seller, business journalist and former presenter and radio producer of CBC, said he was encouraged by the response to his invitation, after having previously told CBC News who expected that perhaps a dozen Americans attend his call.
According to their counting, more than 500 people, a mixture of locals and visitors, presented themselves to the event in Nanaimo, a city on East Island of Vancouver about 100 kilometers north of Victoria.
“It is remarkable for me that hundreds and hundreds of Americans came out and support Canada so specifically with their presence, with their dollars, with everything,” said an emotional Maffin on Saturday. “It’s alone, it’s overwhelming.”
Local vendors, including food trucks and farmers, were presented for the weekend event, which included a pub tracking and visits to local businesses, and took a group photo of the people who attended.
“I think that as a patriotic Canadian and someone very proud of this country and its values, I am very sorry that my American friends and neighbors,” said Mayor of Nanaimo, Leonard Krog. “But you know, this will happen.”
Americans express interest in moving
The festival attracted the United States attendees near BC such as Washington and Oregon, but some attendees came from places as far away as North Carolina and Texas Central.
Rachael Smith-Taylor and Lisa Owens, both nurses of Belton, Texas, said the visit to Nanaimo came when they discovered the next stage of their lives, given concern about 2SLGBTQ+ rights in the United States under Trump.
“One of the reasons why I wanted to come here, in addition to whales and waterfalls, is that it could actually take your hand and not be afraid,” said Smith-Taylor to CBC News.
Smith-Taylor and Owens said that, once they mentioned that they were nurses, the people of Nanaimo immediately mentioned that they need more medical care personnel, and even made a tour of the local hospital.
In the midst of a BC government impulse to add more trained medical care personnel in the US, in the province, the couple said they began investigating the process of registering in Canada.
“I know there are many things wanting this to become the state 51 … most of the United States does not feel the same with that,” Owens said. “It has been very shocking, these last 90 days.
“I was somewhat happy to be here, hopefully instill some of the Canadians, who not all feel like that,” he added.
