Growing up near Seattle, I spent countless summers visiting Canada – leaping into the frigid salt water of British Columbia, devouring boxes of Smarties (Canada’s superior M&Ms) and chatting up locals who sometimes even shared their coveted fishing spots.
Years later, as an adult, I met a graduate student who was my perfect match. The fact that she was Canadian was the cherry on top – she was the living embodiment of my joyful childhood summers.
We moved to Colorado, got married and now she’s a proud U.S. citizen. She works tirelessly in public health in Durango and has touched countless lives. Her friends and family in Canada are a core part of who we are, and my family cherishes the cross-border bond.
That’s why it’s been so difficult to witness the inflammatory rhetoric from Donald Trump toward Canada – our neighbor and ally for generations.
Off-and-on tariffs, threats to their sovereignty and damaging remarks have deeply strained relations. Some of our family members in Canada are directly impacted. Friends are canceling trips to the U.S., and I wonder if some might no longer visit Durango, a place they once loved.
We can’t undo the damage overnight, but we can show our Canadian neighbors here in Durango that they’re valued. Let our lawmakers know that we don’t support threats against our allies.
Support efforts to rebuild bridges, not burn them. We’ll be hanging a Canadian flag as a symbol of solidarity.
Grant Wilson
Durango
