Hundreds of Americans traveled to Nanaimo, British Columbia for a weekend gathering organized by local Tod Maffin to support the Mid-Island community hit by U.S. tariffs. Visitors from North Carolina, Seattle, and beyond spent money at local businesses and shared in what participants called a welcoming, inclusive atmosphere that strengthened cross-border friendship.
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Standing shoulder to shoulder with Canadians and waving this nation's flag proudly Saturday, hundreds of American visitors flood Nanaimo's Maffeo Sutton Park in a show of neighbours' solidarity.
Everyone, welcome to beautiful Nanaimo!
I'm overwhelmed. My heart is full. I could not have imagined that this many people would come to support the Mid-Island and just Canada as a whole.
Sally Valero and her husband traveled from North Carolina to be part of the weekend.
I am just so happy to be at a place where everybody's like-minded with me and believes the same stuff, and it's just heartwarming to see that everybody is united in the craziness that is going on in America. Kevin Keating traveled from Seattle.
We were a little pensive about coming across the border just because of the rhetoric that comes out of DC, but, uh, It came across fine. Everything's great. It's lovely to see all these people that are so open.
It all started with a humble invitation on TikTok by Nanaimo man Tod Maffin.
Hey Americans who support Canadians, I have an idea.
Welcoming Americans to stay in his hometown of Nanaimo this weekend and spend at local businesses that have been hard-hit by U.S. tariffs.
We are just so sorry.
I've been adopted by a couple lovely Canadian women who are making me feel welcome here and showing me the city.
I just think it is absolutely wonderful. And to know how many of the wonderful Americans— just heartwarming. I just want to cry. It's beautiful. Really, totally awesome.
Look at the people who are here. This feeling is so inclusive and so fabulous.
It has made a big difference, and we are so grateful to have you here.
When you have hundreds of people in a shoulder season coming into, you know, a resource town that's been hit hard by tariffs, how can it not make a difference?
Some will take home pins of solidarity, but Qualicum Beach's David Jameson has made it a permanent statement in ink on his arm. He's more than 500.
