The Independent

It was billed as a show of friendship – Canadians and Americans on either side of the St. Clair River waving flags.

Sarnia City/County Councillor Bill Dennis and the mayor of Port Huron, Anita Ashford, organized the event after Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley said he would ask council to take down the American flags on city property as US President Donald Trump said Canada should become the 51st state. Bradley decided to withdraw the idea after Prime Minister Mark Carney talked with Trump and committed to further talks. Dennis and Ashford went ahead with the plan.

On the Canadian side of the spans, Mark Moran, a publisher of a local tourist magazine, was wrapped in a Canadian flag. He says 10 per cent of the visitors to Sarnia-Lambton are from the United States and that they make up twenty percent of the tourism dollars spent.

“There’s one man (Trump) who’s thrown a wrench in the systems of both countries, and it has nothing to do with the people. Americans are welcome here. We know we’re welcome there, and it’s not about the people, and that’s clearly being shown today,” he said adding he wanted to show his American neighbours they are welcome here and it is safe to visit Canada.

“It would be natural to to be worried about that you’re American coming into Canada, given the climate, and they probably don’t realize that it’s such a peaceful country that there’s nothing to worry about.”

There was also a political undertone under the bridge. Both Liberal George Vandenberg and Brian Everaert of the Peoples’ Party of Canada attended the rally.

And several black anti-Carney flags and shirts along the waterfront. A pickup truck with a trailer bore one of the anti-Carney flag along with anti-vaccination messaging and photos. At least one woman carried an upside down Canadian flag – that’s a sign of dire distress and in extreme danger.

A few Canadian flags could be seen on the American side of the bridge and horns could be heard during the demonstration. Dennis said

For Ned Keelan, who came to the Point Edward park to do some fishing, the event was a distraction. He wasn’t sure what was going on but said there were some people arguing behind him. “If I wanted to argue I would have stayed married.”