Nestled on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula in Washington state, Point Roberts is a quaint, seemingly serene exclave that is geographically detached from the continental United States, more Canadian in its day-to-day interactions than perhaps any other American town. It is unique in that it is one of the only places in the U.S. where residents must traverse through Canadian territory to return to the mainland U.S. Due to its unique geography and demographics, the local economy and social fabrics are significantly interwoven with those of nearby Canadian locales, particularly Vancouver, British Columbia, which lies just 25 miles north.
Tamara Hansen, who manages the charming Saltwater Café in Point Roberts, attests to the profound influence of Canadian patrons on the local businesses. “I would say 90% of our business is driven by the Canadians,” she notes. However, a visit to the café on an ordinary April day unveiled a startling scene – at the peak of the lunch hour, the café was desolate, a sight unfamiliar and unsettling for what should have been a bustling establishment.
“This is not normal, to not have anybody sitting in the restaurant,” Hansen remarked, her voice echoing the uncomfortable silence of the empty café. The deserted dining tables were stark symbols of the broader challenges facing Point Roberts. The town, vibrant and dependent on cross-border interaction in its normal state, now finds itself grappling with a confluence of political rhetoric and economic policies that have begun to isolate it extensively.
Beth Calder, who operates a shipping delivery service and is a fifth-generation resident, painted a somber picture of the business landscape. “I can’t even remember a time when the shelves ever looked like this, ever, not even during COVID,” she said, referring to the stark emptiness that hit her business. Calder’s comments underscore the significant downturn in cross-border activity, stirred in part by political and economic decisions emanating from far beyond the quiet borders of Point Roberts. Indeed, Canadian customers, pivotal to the sustenance of local businesses here, seem to have receded drastically..
“If it wasn’t for Canadians, Point Roberts would be literally a western ghost town,” Calder remarked candidly, highlighting the critical economic lifeline that Canadians represent for this small town. The community’s ties with its northern neighbors extend beyond mere economics; many residents here hold dual citizenship, reflecting decades, if not centuries, of intertwined destinies and shared experiences.
Contributing heavily to this downturn is the recent political rhetoric from President Trump. His statements and policies have incited significant unease and resentment among Canadians. The repercussions of such rhetoric were clear in the words of Calder when she relayed her customers’ reactions: “Then it turned into people saying, ‘Well, you know what, we’re not coming back for four years.'” This kind of disheartening sentiment showcased a sharp, painful break in the historically friendly and mutually beneficial relationship between Point Roberts and Canadian visitors.
This dramatic drop in cross-border interaction has drastically affected local businesses. Calder, whose business plummeted dramatically, made the tough decision to close her doors permanently in March. Hansen’s Saltwater Café, notwithstanding similarly critical economic pressures, continues to operate, though the future is uncertain.
“How are we going to get through as a community?” Hansen muses, a heavy question loaded with uncertainty and the hope for a resilient rebound. Even if political and economic measures such as tariffs are reversed, Hansen believes that overcoming the broken trust and restoring old relationships with the Canadian clientele could take time – a luxury that many small businesses in the area cannot afford.
Point Roberts finds itself in a particularly precarious position due to its unusual geography and the recent political climate. The town is emblematic of larger national and international trends, where policies and rhetoric designed and delivered in faraway capitals reverberate through small, tight-knit communities in ways that are profound and, at times, devastating. For residents and business owners of Point Roberts, the path forward is uncertain. They face the challenge of navigating a landscape that has shifted beneath them, hoping for a return to normalcy and the revival of the vital cross-border exchanges that once breathed life and prosperity into their unique enclave.
Employing a resilient spirit and a hopeful gaze towards the future, the people of Point Roberts are keen to rekindle their economic vitality and continue to serve as a vibrant bridge between the U.S. and Canada, despite the challenging times. The quaint, small-town American charm of Point Roberts, deeply entangled with Canadian influences, awaits a return to its bustling days, aspiring to once again be a lively hub of cross-border harmony and mutual growth.
