Formerly a thriving community, the unique U.S. exclave of Point Roberts is currently at a crisis point. The growing tensions between the U.S. and Canada are now stress-testing it. Point Roberts is uniquely situated with Canadian territory to the north and east, and water on the other three sides. It depends on its Canadian neighbors for easy access to economic drivers and essential utilities. This tiny town’s economic fortune is due to its quirky island status. Recent geopolitical tensions have brought new urgency to the mounting challenges they face.
In Point Roberts, nearly 70% of the residences are Canadian-owned. That underscores the deep connections that bind the two countries together in this remarkable border town. Bill Calder, an 85-year-old original resident, was born in Vancouver. He’s lived most of his life only a few miles south in Point Roberts. For Maggie Mori, nothing can compare to the summers she spent in her family’s home. These memories paint a picture of the enduring connections that many Canadians feel with this iconic American destination.
Recent events have thrown a heavy cloud over these relationships. The Canadian government recently cautioned its citizens to “expect scrutiny” when crossing into the U.S., reflecting the heightened security measures and increasing tensions at the border. U.S. border officials today have unprecedented power to seize travelers’ electronic devices—like phones and laptops—and search them without having to give a reason why. As you can imagine, this change has made many residents nervous about engaging in any cross-border activity.
The alienation some Canadians are feeling due to these circumstances is a serious issue,” Calder said. “They simply feel at home — more alienated from here, though — for what’s going on,” he said. He seemed particularly spooked by the U.S. establishment’s growing nationalism, including the way U.S. policy threatens to erode Canadian sovereignty. He concluded, “I think it’s all based on a fear of the loss of our Canadian sovereignty.
The economic consequences for Point Roberts are dire as well. The town’s economy depends heavily on the influx of Canadians, but as Brian Calder explained, it’s not the same with pedestrian traffic drying up completely. It’s shrunk back down to maybe 70% of what it was,” he said, estimating. The local grocery store is having supply chain issues with stock. Fewer customer visits further emphasize communities’ strained relationship with policing.
The reasons for this downward trajectory are complex and varied. Tariffs, and the threat of retaliatory detentions at ports of entry, are straining U.S.-Canada relations. President Donald Trump’s continual, tongue-in-cheek proposals to annex Canada as the 51st state barrage the proposed bridge with concrete. “Both economies lose because of it,” Calder said. Now human beings are mad at one another because of that absurd comment.
Mori remarked that in spite of these tensions, some communication between heads of state is ongoing. She noted that the previous meeting between Trump and our new prime minister had a productive outcome. Given all the darkness around us, her comments suggested at least a sliver of hope. Her father remains skeptical. I’m not very hopeful under Mr. Trump, Bill Calder admitted, expressing his concerns about the growing lack of faith in government.
The atmosphere in Point Roberts is charged with uncertainty, as residents grapple with potential changes to their way of life. Calder summed up this feeling well with her response, “I don’t know, we’ll just have to wait and see what happens.” His sense of resignation is indicative of the hurt, disappointment and anxiety being felt by so many in this community.
