The tourist industry has been significantly impacted. And The Pick & Shovel, which is a kind of hardware and garden store on steroids: “I would say that because of all the influx of out-of-state traffic we had over the summer, with a lot of people relocating to our area up here in the Kingdom, you really couldn’t tell this year that the Canadian traffic was missing,” says co-owner Chris Hamblett. But that doesn’t work for Gabrielle. Moving now from the economic to the personal. Have questions, comments or tips? She has dual citizenship: Her dad is American, and her mom is Canadian. December 29 – UK COVID strain confirmed in Canada. I think it's also tourism. But it was at the same time a little bit of a letdown, because I didn't get to see their faces or really hear their excitement in person. “Though an international border lies between communities all along our state’s 90-mile border with Canada, this region is bonded together, and Quebec and Vermont mutually benefit from this close connection,” said Governor Scott. “I really don’t depend on very much Canadian traffic.”. But the closure has taken a toll on families, border towns and economies that rely on cross-border traffic. Last week, the closure of the U.S.-Canada border to nonessential travel was extended once again. U.S. citizens visiting Canada will be required to present one of the travel documents listed here: U.S. Passport; U.S. Passport Card; Enhanced Driver’s License (Issued by New York, Michigan, Vermont and Washington only) We have support from VPR sustaining members. The latest extension of the border closure to non-essential travel will last until at least Dec. 21. At least, they used to. “You can’t touch, you can’t give a gift, you just sit there and talk.”. But most of what we heard from you wasn’t about smoked meat. EAST RICHFORD – Scissors were snapped from both sides of the U.S. – Canada border Monday morning as officials from both Vermont and Quebec heralded the reopening of a historic truss bridge that, for almost a century, connected the communities of East Richford and Sutton, Quebec. You know? Officials confirmed a new strain of Coronavirus in Ontario, Canada. The Canada-U.S. border will remain closed to non-essential travel for at least another month. More from VPR: An 'Eerie' Few Months Farming Along Vermont's Border With Canada. So how are they doing? So for now, it’s the all-too-familiar routine of phone calls and video chats. And isolating. I guess the whole thing just is, just made me feel really small.”. I think the lasting impact of the actual border closure will be, it will take a significant amount of time for cross-border traffic in nonessential services to increase anytime soon. I miss it so much.”. So when might the border reopen? So the longer this goes, it's going to really impact the tourist industry, local economies and, of course, friendships. It was about relationships. It's interesting because the United States and Canada are saying different things right now. Henry Epp contributed reporting to this episode, with editing from Lynne McCrea. Ty Gibbons composed our theme music; other music by Blue Dot Sessions. I don’t have a goal, I don’t have a purpose. Gabrielle got in touch with us to see if we could find out how other cross-border families are coping. “In all honesty, I really can’t say it affected our business at all,” says co-owner Randy Davis. “The nephew and nieces are growing up and changing, and I’d like to be a part of their lives. If you’re able to make a gift, you can do that at bravelittlestate.org/donate. Even business leaders in Canada express caution. Until the pandemic shut down non-essential travel between the U.S. and Canada. Phil Scott said he doesn’t believe conditions yet support a recent call from the U.S. When it’s clear, we’ll go back and we’ll meet in Montreal and we’ll do our own thing.”. I get daily updates about what the wildlife on the farm is doing, or what his cats are up to and whatnot. “It’s been hard. ... around two-thirds of Canadians say even after the border reopens to nonessential traffic, they will remain uncomfortable traveling to the United States." From what I've been reading in the news, it seems that there's a resurgence going on in the States, and there's a resurgence going on in Canada. The border will remain shut until at least Nov. 21. “My grandfather.”. Built directly on the border of Blaine, Washington and Surrey, British Columbia, the Peace Arch is a 67-foot high (20 metres) testament to the close ties between Canada and the US. “The title of the poem is the date our meeting should have been held in 2020,” she notes. “I especially hope to see my mother-in-law after this coronavirus thing is over,” says Richmond resident Darcy Buret. The pandemic has shifted even more of our lives online. I think that a Biden administration would certainly repair relations. When Canada does reopen its borders, many existing safety measures will almost certainly remain in place. “You know, the wounds haven’t healed yet,” Kenny says. But it’s still pretty frustrating.”, More from VPR: 'We Could Expect The Border To Stay Closed At Least Till Next Summer'. And I miss that. Bess Onegow: I think I'm most looking forward to actually being able to give him a hug and to see his face smiling at me and be able to hug my uncle and see him smile at me as well, and to just go for a walk on the farm and have them show me what changes they've made while I've been away, and to just be able to be there and be in our place together. Borders With Canada And Mexico Will Stay Closed Another Month, Reporter Debrief: COVID-19 Cases Tick Up In Quebec, Premier Threatens A Lockdown, An 'Eerie' Few Months Farming Along Vermont's Border With Canada, For assistance accessing our public files, please contact publicfile@vpr.net or call 802-655-9451. So when might the border reopen? But certainly I've read across the Canadian border, mayors and public officials and citizens [saying], “Until we get the virus under better control in the United States, the desire is to keep the border to nonessential travel closed.”, More from VPR: Reporter Debrief: Quebec Experiencing Second Wave Of The Coronavirus. Missing the funeral. “So I’ve had time to really dwell on it, I guess, and I’m a good dweller on stuff. Spanning more than 5,000 miles of land, the U.S.-Canada border encompasses many unique communities with their own sets of challenges for how to reopen. My dad and my uncle are both in their 70s, and they have some underlying health issues that make them a little more at risk for complications from COVID. CARIBOU, Maine (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine wants the Biden administration to reconsider U.S.-Canada border restrictions that were imposed a year ago because of the pandemic. Especially when I have all this time. “I have my mom and dad, and I have an aunt, I have a cousin, I have multiple cousins in that area,” she says. Their conversation below has been edited and condensed for clarity. Gabrielle Coburn lives in Kingston, Ontario and is Brave Little State's latest question-asker. (I’m not expecting you to keep track of all this. Gabrielle says she’s seen photos of families gathering on … More from Brave Little State: How Are The U.S.-Canada Border Restrictions Affecting Vermont Families And Businesses? “It was really good, and then right before we all left, them to go back up to Canada and my fiance and I to go home, I thought about it and said, ‘Wait a second, I don't have any pictures of the fact that we did this,’” she says. If you don’t follow them, you could face a fine of up to $750,000 and up to six months in prison. “Vermont’s relationship with Canada is so important, and strengthening it is a focus of my administration,” said Governor Scott. We’ll hear more from Bess later. I missed my father's 70th birthday, and in April, my fiance and I got engaged, and I had to tell them via phone call. “She’s 77, and I’d like to spend time again with her.”. The United States and Canada border remains closed to non-essential traffic at least until March 21, 2021. Darcy’s husband’s family are all in Montreal. Bess Onegow and her dad, Peter, who lives in Canada. Gabrielle says she’s seen photos of families gathering on either side of the border between Derby Line and Stanstead, outside the public library. As vaccine rollout continues to ramp up in Canada and the United States, some American politicians are calling on the Biden administration to reopen the Canada-U.S. land border by this summer. And then *she* ended up marrying a Canadian. And one added challenge… up until recently, Bess’ dad didn’t have internet access. It's been closed since late March as a measure to guard against the spread of the coronavirus. “Any reopening of the border to nonessential travel should be done cautiously and only when public health authorities deem it … The Pick & Shovel in Newport has gained any Canadian customers it has lost through people who have moved to Vermont from out of state. I also have started writing letters with my dad, and I love his handwriting. Our decisions will continue to be based on the best public health advice available to keep Canadians safe.". And I'm really glad that I did, because that's the most recent picture that I have. Cameron says having this border restriction, that you can’t bypass? And he slipped into Quebec for the day. “So I wouldn’t dare complain, because I see what’s going on around the country, and I know the privilege that I have.”. But even that was hard. December 23. On December 23, Canada authorized the vaccination and began with vaccinating healthcare workers. The border will remain shut until at least Nov. 21. Or just spread the word about the show. In the heart of this strange, sad holiday season, businesses and families continue to navigate the ongoing border closure between Vermont and Canada. It has been suggested that it is 22% more expensive to live in the United States than in … In a letter, Stefanik and 29 … With the world turned upside down, Brave Little State has been collecting audio diaries from Vermonters, about what — and how — you're doing. There's no way Canadians are going to open the border to the United States without some sort of collaborative agreement with the U.S. and some sort of sense of confidence that we've really gotten the pandemic under control, which we clearly haven't. WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWNY) - North country congresswoman Elise Stefanik is calling for the ‘phased’ reopening of the U.S. - Canada border. But some part of me thinks that maybe if we do enough, that it’ll all be over sooner, so I can go visit them.”. But he’s still processing. “In the smaller towns, just across the border, the neighbors there come to Newport/Derby area and buy staples — they shop for groceries, get gasoline, things like that,” Bruce says. There's estimates — I've read a number of epidemiologist [commentaries] from Canada, as well as I've talked to government officials, including in the Boston Consulate, who have said we could expect the border to stay closed at least till next summer. I try to fill my day as best I can. December 4, 2020 . It’s harder to find a good-news story. “So yeah, it’s too bad.”. I think you wouldn't see the insults and threats. Will I be able to cross the land border to go to work? “So I’m just wondering how it’s affecting, like, the economy, with the lack of business from Canada,” she says. “He loves driving around and he loves dropping off little treats like that.”. We’ve tried to be responsible citizens. So all we can hope for, and what we’re all actually doing right now, is we’re preparing to entice and draw our visitors across the border once the border opens up and once COVID is at bay.”, More from VPR: With Canadian Border Closed, NEK Tourist Spots See Big Drop. Restrictions on non-essential travel will last until at least Dec. 21, and potentially into the spring or summer of next year. i mean there are a whole host of issues and vermont's governor this week said he looks forward to border reopening and a return of cross border tourism and trade -- … But at this point, I’ve missed a year of birthdays, I’ve missed family time, and going into missing the holidays. He adds that the business The Pick & Shovel might have lost from Canadians was replaced by new people moving in from other states in the U.S. “Probably five-fold,” Chris says. In a normal winter, about 50% of its customer base comes from Canada. A lot of us are making these hard choices not to see family, even here in the U.S. So any excuse I get to have him write me a little note or something has been wonderful. They went to her dad’s favorite restaurant: Outback Steakhouse. Charest said that he thought border reopening could come sometime in July, a view echoed by U.S. My colleague Henry Epp spoke to one Vermonter who’s been dealing with this: Bess Onegow, the 27-year-old Williston resident we briefly heard from earlier. The only thing that comes to mind is right after Sept. 11, and that didn't last nearly this long. Vermont Gov. She lives too far away, in Ontario. “I’m not sorry that we didn’t do my mother’s that way. Doing a funeral on Zoom is not the way it’s supposed to be,” he says. Canada’s chief public health officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, told CNN last spring that the mandatory two-week quarantine “remains a cornerstone as we go forward.” So, when will Canada reopen, and what will travel there look like when it does? And he says he’s grateful to be in Vermont for the pandemic. Special events in all seasons, including the Memphremagog Winter Swimming Festival, draw thousands of Canadians who eat out and go shopping. This is terrible.”, Tom Powell of South Burlington: “One of the things I most dearly miss about Montreal is going to Lester’s Deli and Market up in the Outremont section of Montreal. Canadians have tried to – in fact, the most recent October statement, Canada continues to try to create some flexibility for extended family members of Canadians and permanent residents to come into Canada. At least, they used to. MONTREAL (WCAX) - Canada’s prime minister is not ready to reopen the border just yet. Here’s Cameron Bradley, of Burlington: “I'm an American citizen, but my mom, stepfather, brother and sister are all Canadian,” Cameron says. But she said traffic has receded with the closure of the U.S.-Canada border, about 15 miles north of the city. “It’s untold,” he says. Read about ways to get in touch here. Jeffrey Ayres: Certainly not to my knowledge. And if the border remains closed, it's more likely that both sides are going to be kept a little bit safer and kind of not cross-contaminate each other.
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