Flag friction in Fenelon Falls
Last year, while walking along the locks in Fenelon Falls, Lynda Palmer was shocked to see an American flag flying.
“I just couldn’t believe my eyes. It felt like a slap in the face with what’s going on with (Canada’s) relationship with the U.S.”
This year, she was surprised to see it return, given those same geopolitical issues with the United States are still with us. The U.S. president continues to imply Canada should be the 51st state, as well as using other forms of economic intimidation.
Palmer made it clear she has no problems with American tourists who visit the area and acknowledges that they’re important to the economy. “They are a significant part of our tourism along the Trent-Severn Waterway, without a doubt.”
But she points out a nation’s flag is more properly about the broader culture in the U.S. and is far more political than welcoming individual Americans who are visiting.
While the flag is on Trent-Severn property, it is the Fenelon Falls and District Chamber of Commerce that puts the flags up.
“For the past 15 years, the Fenelon Falls & District Chamber of Commerce has taken on the responsibility of securing funding to install and maintain the small flags along the upper portion of the Trent-Severn Waterway canal,” said Marylee Boston, executive director of the chamber.
“In 2025, a few residents approached the chamber regarding the U.S. flags that have historically been included in the flag display. Residents held differing opinions regarding flying the U.S. flag, both for and against it.”
Boston says chamber staff spent “significant time in dialogue with residents, local stakeholders, elected officials, city staff, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, and Chambers of Commerce in communities with a high volume of U.S. visitors.”
However, for some the flag sends a political message. Linda Oliver grew up in Fenelon Falls. While she now lives in Lindsay, she still visits the area. “If I live in Lindsay in a residential area, imagine if I put an American flag on my front lawn. I think all my neighbours would be calling me and pounding on my door and saying, ‘what are you doing’?”
In her view, an alternative would be to put up a “welcome back” sign for visitors. “(Businesses) do depend on that three-month income from American tourists, I get it. But the other nine months of the year they have to depend on the local people.”
Sherry Chalmers grew up in Fenelon Falls and now lives in Port Perry. When she saw the flag flying on a recent visit, she was upset. “I feel like we should be proud Canadians, and I was just disappointed in seeing it there.”
Like others, she understands how important summer tourism is to the area and has no problems with the Americans who do visit. “We should be pleasant and friendly to the Americans that do come up.”
Boston said the decision to keep the flag flying wasn’t one that was made rashly. “The Chamber board of directors reviewed all the feedback and made a decision that aligned with our mandate: to reduce the number of U.S. flags to one to continue welcoming the many U.S. visitors who support the local economy.”
She said several U.S. visitors have noted the U.S. flag along the canal “and shared their appreciation for our community’s welcoming environment.”
Palmer pointed out that Americans aren’t the only tourists in the area, and having a more inclusive sign would be the best option. “Welcome back encompasses a lot of people.”
I have no issues with this. The US is our friend and allie (despite some folks ‘feelings’) and the current administration in both our countries will change time and again.
I have friends and family in the US. We welcome US tourists to our country/province and Canadians are welcomed there.
I would never be expecting my neighbours to be “calling me and pounding on my door and saying, ‘what are you doing’?” should I choose to fly an American flag on my property.
I believe Lynda was clear in her statement that this is not about the American people. Many of us have friends and family in the U.S. who we love and respect. Displaying their flag is one way to demonstrate our friendship and appreciation for their contribution to the local economy, but there are other actions we could take in that sentiment that don’t imply our broad support for their country’s current political actions. To your point, administrations and political environments are by design ever changing. It would not be hard to display the U.S. flag again when our ally treats our nation and citizens with respect.
Only fly the American flag below the Canadian flag. That is the proper flag etiquette . And the foreign flag must be smaller than the home 🚩.
Agree
If the flag of one foreign country is up, then the flags of all foreign countries should be up. A Tourist dollar is a Tourist dollar, and ALL tourists should be represented.
It is sad to see the American flag there, as if claiming some form of ownership.
Above all, the flags of the First Nations should be up before ALL others!!!
This town should be Ashamed of there self for flying that u.s. flag.
Wake up people…
So money is more important than dignity.
Remove it !!
You won’t see Canadian flags in tourist areas in the USA
The Fenelon Falls Flag Flap
It is easy to get riled up when you see the American flag flying at the Fenelon Falls locks. With everything going on in politics and the tensions between Canada and the U.S., seeing the Stars and Stripes on local public property can feel like a slap in the face. It makes a lot of people defensive.
Fenelon Falls needs tourist money to survive. The local shops, bakeries, and restaurants make a big part of their annual income in the short 90 days between June and Labor Day. They have to make enough money in those three months to stay open during the long, quiet winter when the locks freeze over.
Fenelon Falls (Lock 34) is a major stop on what boaters call the “Great Loop”—a massive highway on the water that loops all around North America. Every summer, a couple hundred wealthy Americans pilot huge 40-foot boats right through Bobcaygeon and Fenelon. There is a massive financial difference in spending between a GTA weekender and these American “Looper” boaters:
The Local Driver: Drives up for the weekend at their cottage or Air-BnB, brings their groceries from the Costco in the City, drives into town for a scoop of ice cream, looks at the water, and drives home. Yes, there are thousands of them.
The American Boater: Parks their massive boat at the lock wall for days. They spend hundreds of dollars on boat fuel, buy bags of groceries at local stores, and eat at the restaurants. $1 US is $1.40 Canadian. They are of a class of wealth where they are spending on a life expereince. A bucket list item being checked off.
Even though these American boats only make up about 3% of the traffic at the locks, I’ll bet they bring in a disproportionate share of the overnight tourist cash that is the lifeblood that keeps quaint tourist towns alive.
In the boating world, a national flag is like a giant billboard. To an American captain who has been driving a boat for weeks in a foreign country, seeing their flag tells them, “You are welcome here, it is safe to park, come spend your money.”
The Chamber of Commerce isn’t trying to solve world peace or fix international politics. Their job is to protect local jobs and local businesses. By cutting the display down to just one American flag, they made a fair compromise.
For more information on the Great Loop visit the https://www.greatloop.org/great-loop-information.html
Why put up an American Flag?When you go to the U.S , there are NO Canadian flags flying. Will welcome visitors from the United States.But does Not want to be the 51st State. I am a proud Canadian.
Ray is absolutely right……fly the US flag under the Canadian flag on the same pole.
I think if enough people complain about it.to them they will.probably take it down.
Thank you for bringing to light a sentiment I’ve also been feeling!! Another important point to consider is the placement of the flag. This is Parks Canada administered land. Placing any foreign flag on a Canadian Heritage site is problematic. Local businesses are entitled to their own opinions and messaging but this crosses a line beyond just expressing our personal opinions.
Of course we should be welcoming our US tourists but I don’t see the need to fly the US flag. A welcome sign would be inclusive of all tourists.
the american flag absolutely should not be on display. the administration of the USA has consistently insulted Canada’s leaders, mused that Canada would not exist without the USA, backed separatists in Alberta, and over and over threatened to make Canada a 51st state.
when/if the current administration is the US is replaced with a more respectful leader we could then consider displaying their flag.
I complete agree that the American flag should NOT be flown here at all and especially under the current political circumstances. It would be much more appropriate to fly the Ontario flag instead. Americans know they are welcome here so long as they leave their MAGA opinions behind.
Ray is absolutely right……fly the US flag under the Canadian flag on the same pole.
We ought to not be bothered that another Nations flag is up and welcome our neighbors to spend their dollars here. Its the disrespect of the American president towards our nation that should not be tolerated. Flying US flags emboldens the few and I stand against that sycophantic behavior. We can welcome our neighbors, but we CAN subtly protest by not promoting their current government values. Americans aren’t coming here to see their flags, they are here for the environment and people. We can still be welcoming and kind to everyone, we just don’t have to always support them.
if they dont come here to see their flag TAKE IT DOWN no brainer
I think it’s a great idea to exchange the flag with a message that reflects our respect for American visitors as opposed to a country whose leadership is currently not proving themselves to be an ally in any sense of the word. Why doesn’t the Chamber board be a leader in initiating a new approach. I believe if you did any kind of survey with American visitors they would agree it doesn’t need to be their country’s flag they see in order to feel welcome and appreciated. Thanks for brining this up, Lynda.
The American flag should be taken down. A “Welcome” sign would serve to welcome ALL of our tourists.
I would encourage any and all businesses who wish to display the US flag to do so, and let our locals as well as guests decide which businesses they choose to frequent.
I completely agree with Lynda Palmer. The US flag should have come down last year. This is unacceptable from our Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber of Commerce should DO BETTER
Maybe the paper could do a follow-up with more information on exactly which “elected officials” and “local stakeholders” the Chamber contacted to come to this decision.
Flying the flag of another nation on our land is a significant insult to our country. Remember a flag represents sovereignty and territorial claims. They represent a countries authority. It is a nations identity. There are regulations as to how flags of another nation are to be displayed. The very BASIC is that the flag of a foreign nation must NOT be flown at the same level as the ‘host’ nation. This is not happening at the Fenelon locks. Regarding the ‘money’ being spent by the ‘visitors’. since when is money more important than integrity?
If you really want to make the visitors fell welcome, a banner would be more appropriate saying for example, ‘Welcome Loopers’. I suspect that the ‘chamber’ chose a flag because it was cheaper than having a banner printed.
An American flag signals your local government sympathies with the current MAGA administration. If that’s the message you wish to send, so be it. But it deters thinking tourists from visiting Fenelon Falls. Certainly puts me off, and it used to be my lovely home.
Keep the flag flying. I am a proud Canadian, and refuse to let Canadian Legacy Media biases, the constant bad talking from our current federal governmenr regarding our neighbours to the south, and a one term President, influence my admiration for the U.S.. The only reason our country is in the economically vulnerable position it is in today, is because of a failure from our government to make Canada stand on its own two feet. Now that the U.S. demands we do, we’re upset with them? Be upset with our useless federal government of today, and of the past.
Simple fix. Increase the size of the Canadian flag beside the U.S. one. Show clearly our flag takes precedence.
Omg she is at it again on facebook and now here. Give it up we have no beef with usa only liberals do.
I agree, we have no business flying the American flag ANYWHERE in Canada