Mary Cole Mello
Oh no, what went wrong
We used to be the singers in a two-part song.
Guess all good things must come to an end.
We used to be the best of friends.
— Jim Cuddy
Until recently, crossing the border into Canada was about as challenging as crossing at the corner of State and Main in Montpelier (and possibly less hazardous). On Saturday, May 10, however, our group of carpoolers were a little anxious as we made our way to the Quebec border. We joked about it.
(“Let’s get our stories straight”), but there was a feeling of unease.
We knew Canadians were angry about the tariffs and horrified by Trump’s proposal that Canada could become the 51st state. We had heard alarming border-crossing stories, and we were now traveling to Canada to demonstrate our opposition to the actions of the U.S. government.
The trip was inspired by Miriam Hansen, a dual citizen of Canada and the U.S. who loves both of her countries and put her considerable energy into creating a plan that would remind Canadians that many Americans oppose the actions of Donald Trump and want to support our neighbors. She called her plan “At Par.”
While rallies and protests have become commonplace in Vermont and other areas, Hansen told us that these events are not yet widely covered in the Canadian press.
According to Hansen’s plan, a contingent of interested Vermonters would travel to the Jean Talon Market in Montreal, meet with a welcoming committee of Canadians and then go shopping. We would pay for our purchases with American dollars but, “at par.” Because of the higher value of the dollar, the vendors would receive about $1.38 for every dollar we spent, a concrete symbol of our support.
About fifty Central Vermonters responded.
We organized ourselves into carpools, and State Treasurer Mike Pieciak and the mayor of Burlington, Emma Mulvaney Stanak, joined, too. Early on the morning of May 10, we piled into our cars and set off from different points in Vermont. We met up at the Jean Talon Market in Montreal.
Less than three hours later (and after an uneventful border check in), we arrived at the market, an open-air shopping venue filled with long displays of fruits and vegetables arranged with an artist’s eye. Across the rows of yellow citrons, green l’oignon verts, and small baskets of white pommes de terre, we could see the pinks, reds, and yellows of the flower displays. Then there were the bakeries such as Joe la Croûte (Joe the Crust), restaurants, and stores in and around the market.
But before shopping, we gathered for a welcoming ceremony in front of a banner proclaiming, “51st / C’est Non.” Many of the Americans and the Canadians wore pins with the same message and some carried signs noting Vermonters’ feelings of solidarity with Canada. Dominique Pineault, who facilitated the meeting, greeted us all.
Alain Saulnier, an author, journalist, and the former head of Radio Canada’s French-speaking services, described our gathering as a “friendship meeting.” Vermonters have long had good feelings toward Canada and many share kinship. Montpelier resident Susan Ritz noted that her father and grandfather were both born in Canada. Now, she says, “I feel terrible that we could be at odds with our best friends.”
Alex Norris, a Montreal city councilor, told the audience, “It’s heartening to see so many people of conscience from Vermont standing up to say “No” to Donald Trump.
Treasure Mike Pieciak, noted that, “Canadians did not choose Donald Trump. Vermonters did not choose Donald Trump, but we can all choose our friends.”
Emma Mulvaney Stanak said Americans and Canadians are “bound by history, geography, commerce, and … partnership.”
We listened and clapped and joined in with the boos at every mention of the 47th president. Then there was music by the Canadian duo Melisande, followed by a group of Americans who sang Patty Casey’s “We’re Stronger Than That.”
At the end of the day, we left with a sense of accomplishment, but despite the mutual assurances of friendship, we also knew we’re facing dark times. Norris had told us, “I don’t want to boycott American goods but I have no choice.”
I asked Pinneault if there was any chance Canadians would consider crossing the border as tourists.
“No,” she said, “We would feel we were betraying our country.”
Trump’s actions inspired Canadian musician Jim Cuddy to write a song: “We Used to Be the Best of Friends,” which ends with, “Yeah, we used to be the best of friends/ Ah, maybe we could be best friends again.”
The material presented here represents the opinion of the author and does not reflect the opinions of The Bridge. Commentaries may be submitted to editor@montpelierbridge.com. Preference is given to submissions by those who live in central Vermont. Submissions are encouraged to be 500 to 750 words in length.
