Sault Ste. Marie put its ‘elbows up’ for Canada during a non-partisan rally held Saturday amid an ongoing trade war with the United States.
Numerous locals were adorned in red-and-white clothing and waving miniature Canadian flags as speakers took the podium at the Downtown Plaza.
Batchawana Bay’s Edward Smith was hard to miss among the crowd, hoisting a massive Canadian flag while decked out in red.
“I’m here because I believe in Canada and all Canada is about — that’s freedom for everybody, and we invite all Americans to come here and visit,” he told SooToday during the rally.
“Donald Trump can come here too, and I’ll take him fishing. Maybe he’ll remember what Canada is all about.”
Smith didn’t miss a beat when asked why he brought such a large flag to Saturday’s event.
“It’s in my heart, and I believe in it,” he said.
Elbows Up in the Sault kicked off with a moment of silence for Connor Dunn, the 15-year-old who was tragically killed in the west end by a suspected drunk driver over the Easter weekend.
An Indigenous youth drum group known as Giigidoo Nimkii (Anishinaabe for 'rolling thunder') also performed alongside the Great Lakes Dancers to open the rally before a number of speakers took turns addressing the crowd.
“This is our country. We're a sovereign nation, and we're going to enjoy one another's company today,” said Frank O’Connor, co-organizer of the Elbows Up rally.
“It does not matter your political stripe — you are all welcome here today to celebrate with us.”
Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Matthew Shoemaker was also on hand to deliver some words.
“Today, we celebrate and stand up for Canada — for what makes us unique, and what sets us apart,” the mayor said. “Let me start by saying the obvious: We are not, and will never be, the 51st state.”
Shoemaker went out of his way to acknowledge the pre-existing ties between the twin Saults, at one point quoting a letter penned by Sault Michigan Mayor Don Gerrie in support of Saturday’s Elbows Up rally.
“There are very few communities across both great countries that have such a close and productive continuing relationship. So clearly, the friction between our two nations is not something that people in the U.S. are clamouring for, as Don's letter shows,” Shoemaker said, after reading an excerpt from Gerrie’s letter.
“We have friends and neighbours across the river.”
The Elbows Up rally in Sault Ste. Marie coincided with Bridging our Friendship events at the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit, the Bluewater Bridge in Port Huron, and the International Bridge in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich.