NORTHEAST KINGDOM – In recent months, business in the area has reportedly taken a hit due to the loss of Canadian summer tourists. In Burlington, city council members even voted to rename Church Street to Canada Street for the summer’s duration.
Businesses like Hill Farmstead have lost significant Quebecois business in the post-tariff negotiations era between Canada and President Trump, with many Canadians citing his rhetoric about their country. As quoted in VTDigger, Hill Farmstead’s director of brand quality Bob Montgomery said Canadians have accounted for 25 to 30 percent less traffic on the brewery’s website than they usually do. “Given the current circumstances, they’ve been choosing not to visit the United States and to spend their money at home instead.”
Sue Holmes, owner of Kimball House B&B in Hardwick, said they’ve experienced a steep decline in reservations since the election in January, with only one Canadian, who was actually a former U.S. resident, booking a stay.
Stone City Treehouse and Glamping Retreat owner Heather Davis, on Mackville Road in Hardwick, said, “I have seen a dip in visitors overall a bit, and I don’t think I’ve had anyone from Canada this year. We don’t generally have a lot of Canadians, but definitely see them regularly. Most of our guests are from the Boston area, and also New York, New Hampshire, and Vermont. I did have someone from Canada cancel earlier this year, and I asked if it was because of the current administration and he said it doesn’t help.”
Located near the Quebec border, Executive Director Abby Long of Kingdom Trails, in East Burke, said, “We have seen that 50 percent decline in our Canadian members.”
Canadian tourist Julie Morris provided some perspective from across the border, in a July PBS news report; “This threat of annexation by this very powerful militarized ally, we took it very, very seriously. And, honestly, it’s frightening. We don’t have a lot of tools. And, well, tourism is one of the tools that we have.”
Harold White, another tourist, felt similarly, stating “I feel that I have been slapped across the face by this president. And I have many U.S. friends, American friends that I will not be seeing in person for a while because of this. But that’s c’est la vie, as we say here in Quebec.”
“We would see dozens and dozens of bikes outside the store on the bike racks or just leaning up against the building, and normally hearing them speaking French, and that is just not happening,” said Rick Woodward to Vermont Public. Woodward, who owns Green Mountain Natural Foods in Newport, said revenues at his store are down 20% this summer.
This boycott is reflected in recent data from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which shows border crossings from Canada into Vermont have plummeted in recent months. In March and April, roughly 30 percent fewer people crossed over into the U.S. by car than did at the same time last year.
Canadian reservations at hotels and inns across the state have decreased by up to 45% since February, said Kim Donahue, president of the Vermont Lodging Association.
According to a PBS report, in June car crossings to America dropped by 33 percent, the sixth consecutive month of decline. As reported by the Canadian Automobile Association of Quebec, only 4 percent of Quebec residents intend to travel to the USA this summer, many electing to remain in Canadian provinces on their holidays. This is a significant decrease compared to the 12 percent who decided to come to the US last summer.
Alex Strand
Alex Strand is a Hardwick Gazette reporting intern for this summer. She is a rising junior at the University of Vermont studying English and Psychology. She is from Boston, MA, but has begun to fall in love with the Northeast Kingdom. In her free time, she likes reading, swimming and canoe tripping.
Raymonda Parchment is a Hardwick Gazette reporter. She recently graduated from Vermont State University - Castleton with a Bachelor’s Degree in English. She is a strong supporter of freedom of speech, and the right to publish information, opinions, and ideas without censorship or restraint. She is a lifelong lover of the written word, and is excited to join the team as a staff member.
