A bit of context for anyone reading this a few years down the road and the present has (as usual) faded into the fuzziness of propaganda, revisionist history, or simply forgetfulness:
We’re currently in a trade war with the United States of America. And to be really picky, it’s with El Dorito Supremo, aka the Great Orange Baby.
To say that we’re not fans of the United States right now is a gross understatement. Two wars (Venezuela and Iran), humanitarian crises within their own borders, rampant protection of billionaires, abandonment of science and reason, and Capitalism run amok.
Oh, and let’s not forget the flagrant rise of fascism in a country formerly famous for fighting it.
Canada has dramatically cut down its travel since the Dayglo Douchebag came into power, and now we’re actively hunting for partnerships with other nations and associations, because, frankly, we can’t trust the United States. 51st state? Please go suck an egg (I’d say something much, much harsher, but I’ve got enough challenges in my province without having to encourage knocks on my door from Dark Men in Dark Suits).
Where was I?
Oh, right, Americans in Banff.
Choo Choo and I went to Banff on Sunday, mostly as an excuse to get out of town. This time of year is typically quieter – the summer tourists are gone, the snow hasn’t started falling yet, and it’s almost always left to the locals. (Yes, I consider Calgary to be local, we’re barely over an hour away.) Last year, Alex and I went one weekend and found the place nearly deserted.
Sunday? The line at the Banff National Park entrance on Hwy 1 was the longest I’ve ever seen. The parking lots were all full (we got “lucky” and scored $12/hr street parking) and the sidewalks around Banff Ave. and Wolf St. were packed.
At first, I thought that Calgary had emptied into the mountains. Quite a few of us avoid going into the Park during the summer months because of all the tourists. It’s impossible to see the sights, you can’t get onto the trails, it’s just frustrating. As soon as they’re all gone, it’s our turn to get back in and enjoy the land.
And then I heard the drawl of a Southern accent. I couldn’t pin it exactly – I’m not a dialect expert – but it was definitely south of the Mason-Dixon line. GASP! What American was brave enough to step foot in our hallowed grounds at a point when some of have gotten so frustrated with their kinsmen that closing the borders has actually been discussed around dinner tables?
And then I heard another American accent. And another. And another.
And suddenly I started to wonder if Choo Choo and I were the exceptions. There were a lot of tourists – not locals, I mean people who’ve never been there before (they’re easy to spot, usually standing in the middle of Banff Ave trying to get a selfie with Cascade Mountain in the background) – which had me starting to seriously wonder what was going on.
Surprisingly, the Banff Ave Brewing Company was nearly vacant just after noon. Given all the people on the road, I’d expected the place to have a line out the door. But we sat at the balcony, which I’ve never been able to do in all the years I’ve been going there – it was always full!
The real question came with the bill. I leaned in to our server, whom we’ve seen a few times before, and asked her how many of her customers had been American. (How do you tell? By the credit card they use to pay.) About 80%. 4 out of 5 people on the street were from south of the border.
Suffice to say, I’m mildly shocked. Apparently, they’re largely apologetic for what’s being going on, but travelling to a country where there’s almost an open hostility … wait, sorry, I forgot that I’m in Alberta, aka “Texas of the North”. Of course that’s why they’re all here, instead of BC or Ontario, where there’s a lot more rhetoric. Here, well, they’re almost like at home, only with funny coloured money.
I genuinely don’t know how to feel about this. Despite what is clear above, tourism dollars at this time of year are beneficial and the $USD is still quite a lot higher than $CAD. That’s valuable to a lot of people, it puts money into the Banff economy and keeps all those Australians employed (minor joke; there’s a curiously high population of transient Aussies in Banff, especially during the winter).
And yet, I kind of hate them because nothing’s changed down south. They know there’s problems. What happened to all the No Kings protests? Why aren’t they changing habits like we are? Treat Canada like crap, we pull American liquor from shelves, avoid “Made in America” products, choose to shop at Canadian-owned stores. They complain that things are wrong, but how much behaviour is changing to force the situation?
It’s a tough situation. I could wax on (and believe me, I can wax) but it wouldn’t do a darned thing. Media controls what people think, and thinking is in short supply these days. It’s been boiled down “hate these people”, and make no mistake – Canada (especially Alberta, these days) is no better.
So, I guess, thank you, visiting Americans, for pumping a few bucks into our economy. It’s genuinely appreciated. And, pretty please, throw the bums out in November. The world would appreciate that, too.