Letter: Bellingham’s well intended letter to Canada won’t warm relations

I recently read that your mayor and council members sent a thoughtful letter to our local municipalities and city. As a Canadian who has lived in the border town of White Rock for over 60 years — just 5 minutes from the crossing at Blaine — I wanted to respond.

Like many Canadians, I have been avoiding cross-border travel. I used to cross biweekly to buy gas and other essentials, and I’ve always enjoyed visiting your communities. It’s deeply unfortunate that the relationship between our countries has become so strained.

I don’t write this to be petty or combative. I am disheartened by the current economic and political climate in the United States, which has had ripple effects on both sides of the border. President Trump’s hostile remarks toward our country have offended not just me, but most, if not all, of my family and friends.

I understand that the president was elected, and your friends, neighbors, and possibly yourselves, voted for him. This is the risk that American citizens chose, and those who voted for him should not be surprised that he pardoned January 6 rioters/criminals and threatens our country. I am not.

While I appreciate your effort in reaching out, I believe it’s unlikely that a letter will influence President Trump or ourselves. Instead, I hope your energy can be directed toward encouraging dialogue within your own communities — particularly with those who continue to support him, such as your Republican friends/elected officials.

Despite these difficult times, I want to express my sincere respect and well wishes. I have always enjoyed vacationing in your beautiful country and have met many kind, generous Americans over the years. You are good people navigating an extraordinarily challenging period.

With hope and best regards,

Sue Hodson, White Rock, British Columbia

This story was originally published June 2, 2025 at 1:52 PM.