Elbows up patriotism strong across Kawartha Lakes

It seems there’s nothing that turns the heat up on Canadian pride like unexpected attacks by the leader of a historically friendly nation. Comments by the U.S. president in February galvanized this country and contributed to the highest voter turnout in more than 30 years for the recent federal election. And they contributed to a resurgence in national pride regardless of which political party one supported.

And, while it may be cliché to use hockey as a vehicle to talk about Canadian pride, it does seem to be at a level even greater than the 1972 Canada-Russia series, for those old enough to remember.

The attention given to the final game of Four Nations Cup tournament against the U.S. in February during the peak of the American president’s rhetoric, and the responses to the anthems underscored that renewed national pride. It came through as well in the recent Stanley Cup finals, when even casual hockey observers felt the need to see professional sports’ greatest trophy back in Canada. 

 And who would have ever thought Wayne Campbell (Mike Myers’ character from Saturday Night Live and the Wayne’s World movie) would have more influence in Canada than Wayne Gretzky by channeling Gretzky’s own hockey hero, “Mr. Elbows,” Gordie Howe?

This national-pride-manifested-through-hockey pattern is showing up closer to home, too, A few months ago, Lindsay downtown business owner, Steve Turner made a subtle change to his Sportsline Custom Wear store windows, in light of developments south of the border. Not everyone walking by will have noticed, but the team jerseys on display for window shopping are now always from Canadian teams.

“I had just heard enough from Donald Trump about Canada becoming the 51st state. It’s easy to shrug it off when it’s a one-time joke, but he wouldn’t quit,” said Turner. “It was the lack of respect. I didn’t like the way he was talking down to me, and the rest of Canada.”

He responded the way many Canadians have…by making changes to the way they shop, travel, and generally feel about the nation. Like many of us at the grocery store, when purchasing for his business, Turner has eliminated American suppliers wherever possible.

“It really hasn’t been that hard to avoid spending money in the U.S. I am conscious of buying Canadian. I get materials anywhere but the United States, and I ask sales representatives where they source their products,” explains Turner.

He believes there has been a collective back-straightening within Canadian business since the federal elections in the U.S. and Canada, and the start of the tariff war. He mentioned a conversation with an American company’s salesman who called to ask why Turner had not placed any recent orders. When he explained it was a result of ongoing 51st state comments, the salesman told him that business owners across the country were saying the same thing, even suggesting that the only way they might buy from him was if the “Made in the USA” label was cut off the products.

He added that his suppliers have shown signs of responding to this pro-Canadian sentiment. For example, some foreign companies he deals with now operate warehouse facilities in Montreal and Vancouver instead of US cities like New York.

Fellow Lindsay resident Kathy Burge says she can’t remember a time in our history when national pride was more apparent. She pointed to a recent experience that signified there was a major upwelling of Canadian swagger. (Spoiler alert – it involved hockey.)

 She and her husband Kevin were at an Ottawa Senators game and when the anthem began, “everyone was singing it. And not just quietly. Not mouthing the words. Enthusiastically. A huge unfurled Canadian flag gets passed hand over hand above the crowd during “Oh Canada!”, and I had never heard an audience sing so loudly.”

 As snowbirds, Bev Moore and Greg McAdam who live near Coboconk, have enjoyed Florida hospitality for 20 years, and have always felt welcome. “Our friendships have not changed – they are as special to us as always, but the world around us has unfortunately changed. As of late – because of politics – the energy in Florida has shifted slightly. You can feel a negative energy…it’s something you just feel. So, when arriving back this spring, it was nice to feel the abundance of patriotism that we have found in Canada.” 

 Bev Moore says they have many good friends in Florida, and they have admired their patriotism. “So, as a musician coming back this spring, at my first gig I had a Canadian flag out front and truly was proud to do so. I believe it creates a unity and maybe I should have thought of hanging it before all this unrest, but better late than never. It is there with respect – not anger or vengeance – but pride in our beautiful  country.”

 Andrea and Robert Majkut of Fenelon Falls were even more removed geographically from the political situation in Canada this winter since they spent several months in Cambodia, but that did not prevent them from keeping up on events as they happened, thanks to internet service that was better than they have here.

 “Although we were on the other side of the planet, when things went a little upside down for Canada, we felt every shock, surprise, insult, and sense of injustice being inflicted on Canadians from the government of our neighbours.”

 Andrea went on to say, “It felt like a betrayal by a close friend and our initial instincts were exactly what Canada and Canadians rallied to do. We became unified for ourselves, for each other and for our country.”

 Upon their return they did notice a sea change in Canadian esprit.

“We were greeted by the new energy and resolve to deal with these new challenges in a united and determined way. We felt, a ‘Ya, let’s do this,’ fists in the air, elbows up’ kind of energy and that is exactly how we felt while we were away. We were so glad to see it in action when we returned.”

 Specifically, the couple noticed more Canadian flags flying. “We really had a different feeling toward the flags since it was a more inclusive and united sentiment than some of the previous flag-flying sentiments during those initial COVID years.”

 Flags are certainly on display in Fenelon Falls as the chamber of commerce organized their Maple Leaf – Mighty Heart initiative that called on businesses and residents to put up their Canada Day flags for the entire month of June instead of only on July 1.

 Cross border bitterness for U.S. policy

 While the Advocate was interviewing Steve Turner at his Kent Street shop, a young couple on vacation came in and bought two t-shirts. They were from Fort Frances, a northwestern Ontario town a stone’s throw from International Falls, Minnesota. As in all border towns, many residents there cross into the U.S. to shop for groceries, liquor and gas without a second thought. Or they used to. After the repeated comments by the president, Canadian dollars spent in International Falls were dammed to a trickle, according to the couple who didn’t want to be identified. Residents on both sides of the border felt the impact, just as both nations will if the tariff war continues, but Canadians seem ready to emerge from their big brother’s shadow and take a new step on the world stage.

 As for Kathy and Kevin Burge, the Senators’ fans, they are in a unique situation since they have a son, daughter-in-law, and grandson living in New York. The daughter-in-law is an American citizen born to a Republican father and Democratic mother. Political conversations around the dinner table could easily go sideways, but she finds a mutual respect endures from the strong relationship the countries have historically enjoyed.

 The same can be said of interactions with strangers. Upon learning they are visiting from Canada, they often hear apologies from Americans for how Canada is being treated.

 One of the shirts the millennials bought at Sportsline in Lindsay was an “Elbows Up” t-shirt, and the other bore a more strongly worded message directed at the American president and designed in-house by Turner. It was going to be proudly given to a relative in Minnesota.

 “It’s like when we booed during the U.S. anthem at the Four Nations Cup,” said the young woman, bringing it all back to hockey. “We weren’t disrespecting the entire United States, we were just taking every opportunity to express our patriotism.”