4 ms·

So this. A year ago my wife and I did a road trip up into Canada (Kelowna BC region). It was a new experience. I’ve been up into Canadian provinces many times (

So this. A year ago my wife and I did a road trip up into Canada (Kelowna BC region). It was a new experience. I’ve been up into Canadian provinces many times (20+ over the years), but because of the anti Canadian rhetoric that Trump and company were putting out at the time, I was embarrassed and eager for people to not actually know I was from the states. I was hyper aware of the Washington state license plates on our car. I have never felt that way before. Ashamed to be an American. Afraid of the association it implied. Anxious that people would be reductionist, unable to realize that I was not just an American, but a frustrated helpless American. The Canadian people I met as we travelled were all amazing. I was humbled that they took time to talk. And were less interested in identity than issues. One older gentleman, who saw us pull into the McDonalds with Washington plates approached us in the foyer and wanted to tell me that despite what others might say, I was welcome there. It was on one hand kinda weird and at the same time really touching.

atonse 7mo ago
This is true in most scenarios, and the opposite is also true – that Americans are famously friendly, and even though Canadians may not want to visit to make a point, I think even they would agree that most day to day interactions they'd have would be warm and welcoming. There might be a bit more hockey ribbing for the next few weeks, but I know there's a ton of respect for Canada's team. At the end of the day, the idea of "My problem is with the government, and not the people" is as old as time.
- sbarre 7mo ago
  I am also a Canadian who has decided not to visit the US until further notice, and honestly, I'm sad about it. In my 20+ years of regularly travelling to the States, I've almost always had great interactions with the people I've met in all parts of the US I've visited, and I've been all over. "Warm and welcoming" is a very good description. I hope to be able to visit again in the future.
  - atonse 7mo ago
    Same has been true the 2-3 times I've visited Canada. I don't think that'll change. I remember how things got pretty heated during the run up to the Iraq War. And we hope that the friendship will endure. But I'm a pretty optimistic person anyway.
  - conductr 7mo ago
    I think you’re all within your right to keep your distance from us. Our disgraceful leadership, even if it doesn’t accurately represent our people, we must suffer under it but no reason for you to do the same. We just hope you’re aware it’s only a few more years and we can begin to heal the whole relationship with more sane leaders that hopefully do see the strength and value in a positive relationship with a northern neighbor. If not, please send help or accept our political refugees because we will have become permanently screwed if this behavior continues past our current orange phase.
    - overfeed 7mo ago
      > [...]even if it doesn’t accurately represent our people I beg to differ, seeing that the US had free and fair elections - media bias aside.
      - gucci-on-fleek 7mo ago
        Most Canadians are visiting Hawaii and California, not Arkansas and South Dakota, so the point still stands for the states most people are going to. (Although Florida and Arizona are both pretty popular destinations too, which somewhat contradicts my point)
        dnemmers 7mo ago
        South Dakota actually has a few decent tourist attractions west river: (Mt Rushmore, Badlands, Crazy Horse). With its proximity to Canada, and relative cheapness, likely pulls in quite a few tourists from up North. One additional South Dakota attraction (although lessening interest as of late) is how much hunting/fishing is available, and how much the community is interested in the ‘visiting’ hunter. https://sdvisit.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/2025-Economic-Impact_Tourism-Economics.pdf https://sdvisit.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/2025-Economi...
- yibg 7mo ago
  Ironically in my experience anyways, this is true more so in parts that are more strongly "Canada should be the 51st state" politically. e.g. the south, where I find day to day interactions with people there are much more friendly than say California.
pibaker 7mo ago
I just saw this recent survey about whether or not people view their fellow citizens as morally good. Canada ranks first, with 92% respondents answering affirmatively. It's not hard to imagine people like these extending their good will to foreigners, even "hostile" ones. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/05/in-25-country-survey-americans-especially-likely-to-view-fellow-citizens-as-morally-bad/ https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/05/in-25-countr... In contrast, "The United States is the only place we surveyed where more adults (ages 18 and older) describe the morality and ethics of others living in the country as bad (53%) than as good (47%)."
- deleted 7mo ago
  [deleted]
throwway120385 7mo ago
Washington has more in common with BC than with Alabama or Florida. Except for the Pig War, which was more of a disagreement between neighbors over their fence line.
- GuinansEyebrows 7mo ago
  maybe northwestern washington. the rest of the state is basically kentucky.
  - tosapple 7mo ago
    [dead]

atonse 7mo ago

This is true in most scenarios, and the opposite is also true – that Americans are famously friendly, and even though Canadians may not want to visit to make a point, I think even they would agree that most day to day interactions they'd have would be warm and welcoming. There might be a bit more hockey ribbing for the next few weeks, but I know there's a ton of respect for Canada's team. At the end of the day, the idea of "My problem is with the government, and not the people" is as old as time.

sbarre 7mo ago
I am also a Canadian who has decided not to visit the US until further notice, and honestly, I'm sad about it. In my 20+ years of regularly travelling to the States, I've almost always had great interactions with the people I've met in all parts of the US I've visited, and I've been all over. "Warm and welcoming" is a very good description. I hope to be able to visit again in the future.
- atonse 7mo ago
  Same has been true the 2-3 times I've visited Canada. I don't think that'll change. I remember how things got pretty heated during the run up to the Iraq War. And we hope that the friendship will endure. But I'm a pretty optimistic person anyway.
- conductr 7mo ago
  I think you’re all within your right to keep your distance from us. Our disgraceful leadership, even if it doesn’t accurately represent our people, we must suffer under it but no reason for you to do the same. We just hope you’re aware it’s only a few more years and we can begin to heal the whole relationship with more sane leaders that hopefully do see the strength and value in a positive relationship with a northern neighbor. If not, please send help or accept our political refugees because we will have become permanently screwed if this behavior continues past our current orange phase.
  - overfeed 7mo ago
    > [...]even if it doesn’t accurately represent our people I beg to differ, seeing that the US had free and fair elections - media bias aside.
    - gucci-on-fleek 7mo ago
      Most Canadians are visiting Hawaii and California, not Arkansas and South Dakota, so the point still stands for the states most people are going to. (Although Florida and Arizona are both pretty popular destinations too, which somewhat contradicts my point)
      - dnemmers 7mo ago
        South Dakota actually has a few decent tourist attractions west river: (Mt Rushmore, Badlands, Crazy Horse). With its proximity to Canada, and relative cheapness, likely pulls in quite a few tourists from up North. One additional South Dakota attraction (although lessening interest as of late) is how much hunting/fishing is available, and how much the community is interested in the ‘visiting’ hunter. https://sdvisit.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/2025-Economic-Impact_Tourism-Economics.pdf https://sdvisit.com/sites/default/files/2026-01/2025-Economi...
yibg 7mo ago
Ironically in my experience anyways, this is true more so in parts that are more strongly "Canada should be the 51st state" politically. e.g. the south, where I find day to day interactions with people there are much more friendly than say California.

pibaker 7mo ago

I just saw this recent survey about whether or not people view their fellow citizens as morally good. Canada ranks first, with 92% respondents answering affirmatively. It's not hard to imagine people like these extending their good will to foreigners, even "hostile" ones. https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/05/in-25-country-survey-americans-especially-likely-to-view-fellow-citizens-as-morally-bad/ https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2026/03/05/in-25-countr... In contrast, "The United States is the only place we surveyed where more adults (ages 18 and older) describe the morality and ethics of others living in the country as bad (53%) than as good (47%)."

deleted 7mo ago
[deleted]

throwway120385 7mo ago

Washington has more in common with BC than with Alabama or Florida. Except for the Pig War, which was more of a disagreement between neighbors over their fence line.

GuinansEyebrows 7mo ago
maybe northwestern washington. the rest of the state is basically kentucky.
- tosapple 7mo ago
  [dead]