Canada, we miss you. Bellingham leaders invite ‘favorite cousin’ for a visit
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- Bellingham leaders approved letters to Canadian cities affirming close ties.
- Officials cite economic concern as cross-border trade drives local revenue.
- City highlights cultural and social connection to encourage Canadian visits.
Bellingham is reaching out to Canadian residents who have been staying away from the U.S. for several months, angered by President Trump’s tariffs and taunting “51st state” rhetoric.
City Council members unanimously approved on Monday the text of letters to Vancouver and the nearby cities of Delta, Richmond, White Rock, Abbotsford, Langley, Surrey, Coquitlam and Burnaby “to affirm a commitment to continuing a positive relationship.”
Officials in Bellingham and Whatcom County are worried that sales tax revenue will plummet as it did during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the U.S.-Canada border was closed. Annual bilateral trade through land ports of entry in Whatcom County amounted to $18 billion in 2018 and 2019, the most recent years in which data was collected, according to previous Bellingham Herald reporting.
“We wish to express our commitment to our connection with the people of Canada and our deep-rooted social, cultural, and economic ties. It is our hope that our futures will be interwoven with trust and mutual respect, as our histories have been,” according to the text of the letter.
Councilman Dan Hammill said that Bellingham wants to extend a hand in friendship.
“It’s not just about the sales tax revenue. It’s about being welcoming as a community,” he said.
The loss of Canadian visitors is being felt in social circles, too, Councilwoman Lisa Anderson said.
“I just miss the presence of our Canadian neighbors. It’s like losing your favorite cousin,” she said.
Mayor Kim Lund, who has dual U.S. and Canadian citizenship, said she has “deep affection for our neighbors to the north” during a committee discussion Monday.
On Tuesday, Lund told the audience at a Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce meeting that it might take “a month or so” to gauge the full economic impact from losing Canadian visitors.
“The letters and the emails that we’re receiving at the city are expressions of a sense of betrayal,” Lund said. “Our neighbors to the north are feeling unvalued, and they’re feeling hurt and it’s going to take time. I have family up in Canada, family that I love and friends that I love. It’s a hard time. We’ve shared a special closeness with our neighbors to the north. It’s regretful where we’re at right now.”
This story was originally published May 21, 2025 at 5:00 AM.
