Americans hope Canadians stick with stateside summertime traditions

Maine residents offer their thoughts on the ongoing trade war as the tourism season heats up.

U.S. resident Don Hoenig has traditionally spent summers in his Old Orchard Beach, Maine, neighbourhood surrounded by Canadians, and he wants to keep it that way.

“So come on down,” says Hoenig. “Don’t stay away just because of politics. We would love to have you.”

The simmering U.S. trade war and rhetoric about Canada becoming “the 51st state” is top of mind in some of southern Maine’s vacation communities as the summer tourism season heats up.

Cross-border traffic has dropped significantly and there’s been a mass cancellation of Canadian reservations at Maine hotels and inns.

In response, U.S. resident Mark Duval is proudly flying the Canadian flag outside his Old Orchard Beach home.

“The Canadian flag speaks volumes for me,” says Duval. “We cherish the Canadians who come down and we have a great friendly relationship with them. And we depend on them.”

For Jane Sparks, the tariff turmoil is a bit more personal. Sparks was born in Canada but has spent a large part of the last four decades in the United States where she met her husband. In fact, Sparks was proposed to by the ocean in Old Orchard Beach.

Sparks is hoping Canadians will ultimately make a decision to stick with their stateside summertime traditions.

“It’s sad that they’re not coming because of our political environment,” she says. “We depend on tourism. And it’s a shame to hurt the little people in America.”

During a typical summer, up to 40 per cent of Old Orchard Beach visitors come from Canada.