B.C. capital\u2019s U.S. neighbours wave hand of friendship amid political tension<\/p>\n
Published 10:53 am Tuesday, February 17, 2026<\/p>\n
The small American city of Port Angeles is once again rolling out the red carpet for its Victoria neighbours.<\/p>\n
When passengers step off the first Coho sailing of the season on Feb. 19, they\u2019ll be greeted onto dry land by locals from what some fondly call the \u201clost American suburb of Victoria,\u201d complete with a Canada-themed celebration.<\/p>\n
Sam Grello, executive director of the Port Angeles Waterfront District, says the event is a chance to celebrate the longstanding bond between Port Angeles and Victoria, and the vessel that has connected the two communities for decades: Black Ball Ferry Line\u2019s MV Coho.<\/p>\n
The celebration reprises a similar event held last year, organized in response to tariff threats from U.S. President Donald Trump and his repeated calls for Canada to become a 51st state.<\/p>\n
At the time, Grello had hoped the political rhetoric would prove short-lived.<\/p>\n
But over a year later, tensions between the U.S. and Canada continue to simmer, recently flaring again with Trump\u2019s threat to block the opening of the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Windsor, Ont., and Detroit, Mich.<\/p>\n
Fearing the impact of the ongoing political strain on the relationship with their \u201cgood neighbours,\u201d Port Angeles residents feel compelled to wave the maple leaf once more.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate that we feel the need to have to do something like this again,\u201d said Grello. \u201cWe\u2019re a whole year into it; whereas before, it looked like maybe it was just going to be the \u2018chaos of the day\u2019 or \u2018of the month.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n
Since Trump launched his tariff war, Grello says Port Angeles has seen fewer Canadian visitors, with many choosing to stay north of the border for vacations and day-trips.<\/p>\n
According to Black Ball Ferry Line, vehicle traffic on the Coho dropped by around 18 per cent in 2025, while passenger traffic saw a 15 per cent drop. \u201cLargely driven by fewer Canadians travelling down south,\u201d said Jessica Wiersma, director of marketing.<\/p>\n
It was a shift that both the Port Angeles Waterfront District board and Destination Greater Victoria anticipated, says Grello.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody realized \u2026 that 2025 was not going to be a great year for inter-community tourism,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Pivoting their marketing dollars away from Vancouver Island, Grello says they instead focused on encouraging domestic tourism.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd we had a pretty good year,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we miss Canadians.\u201d<\/p>\n
It was a similar story for Greater Victoria. Numbers released by Destination Greater Victoria after the summer, suggested the region had seen its best tourism season in at least 10 years, buoyed by an \u2018elbows up, Canada strong\u2019 attitude.<\/p>\n
But Grello stresses the Coho welcoming party is not about encouraging Victoria folks to spend their tourism dollars south of the border, nor is it a protest about the U.S government.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think that\u2019s very gauche, and it is not the moment,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Instead, the celebration is intended to help alleviate fears that Trump\u2019s time at the White House may erode Victoria\u2019s goodwill for its \u201clost suburb,\u201d causing a \u201cgenerational\u201d change in travel habits.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf there\u2019s three more years of this, that\u2019s a pretty steady drumbeat of messaging,\u201d said Grello. \u201cThat\u2019s enough time for people\u2019s long-term behaviours to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is the very real possibility that in three years, the stink of what\u2019s happening now will remain.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the Coho will survive, says Grello, he fears the bonds and friendship may not.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is a very upsetting prospect for a lot of people in our community,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Similar to last year\u2019s event, Coho passengers will be greeted by live music, cheeky signs and a \u2018Ask an American\u2019 booth where curious Canadians can chat with friendly Americans. There will also be a high school marching band and dignitaries from Port Angeles and Victoria.<\/p>\n
Grello hopes the message of friendship is clear.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s not much we can do to move the political dial, but there\u2019s little things like this that we can do where we\u2019re at least registering our distaste in what the conversation is right now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n