For the past eight years, Hopleaf bar in Andersonville has hosted an annual Canada Day celebration, attracting Canadian expats and American fans of Canada.
This year, however, the celebration took on a new significance as attendees gathered not only to commemorate Canada’s birthday but also to express their opposition to the actions and words of President Donald Trump.
Chicagoan Donna Kraus and her husband, Keith Rodvold, arrived at the bar dressed in gear that celebrated Canada.
Kraus wore a T-shirt emblazoned with “Cool as a Moose, Quebec Canada,” while Rodvold sported a hat reflecting his love for fishing in Ontario.
“We’ve been great neighbors for decades, and I hope it stays that way,” said Kraus, as she and her husband shared a meal at Hopleaf.
The dynamic between the U.S. and Canada shifted dramatically after Trump’s inauguration, which marked the beginning of a series of tariff impositions on trading partners.
Before he was even president, Trump had ignited controversy by suggesting Canada should join the U.S. as its “51st state” and mockingly referred to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the “governor.”
In January, during remarks at Mar-a-Lago, Trump stated, “You get rid of the artificially drawn line, and you take a look at what that looks like, and it would also be much better for national security. Don’t forget: we basically protect Canada.”
Canada is heavily reliant on trade with the U.S., with about 80% of its exports headed south of the border.
In response to Trump’s aggressive rhetoric, there was a burgeoning wave of nationalism in Canada, leading some retailers to boycott U.S. products, including whiskey.
Keith Lemcke, who grew up in Vancouver and has lived in Chicago since 2006, was among the bar’s patrons.
Having switched from an American beer to a Dieu Du Cieli Aphrodite beer from Montreal, Lemcke expressed his indignation over Trump’s remarks about Canada.
“To say Canada should be the 51st state may be viewed as Trump being Trump, but for many Canadians, it’s deeply concerning,” he said, citing Canada’s wealth of natural resources as a potential target for U.S. interest.
Rodvold, a Minnesota native familiar with Canadian culture through his fishing trips, agreed that such remarks were unwelcome and unnecessary.
“They don’t want it, and I don’t think we should bully them into it,” he said, reflecting a viewpoint echoed by many at the bar.
In March, Trump escalated tensions further by imposing 25% tariffs on Canada’s steel and aluminum imports, followed by similar tariffs on automobiles, which constitute Canada’s second-largest export.
This auto industry alone employs around 125,000 Canadians, with nearly 500,000 additional jobs linked to it.
Recent developments saw Trump halt trade discussions over Canada’s proposal to impose a tax on large American tech companies, which Canada eventually abandoned.
Hopleaf owner Michael Roper noted that this year’s Canada Day celebration offered fewer choices of Canadian beers due to the tariffs.
“Many Canadian breweries have pulled out of the American market because of the threat of tariffs,” Roper explained.
He lamented the reduction from eleven Canadian craft beers last year to just two for this year’s celebration.
The annual observance started in 2017 as a response to Trump’s negative rhetoric about Canada, Roper explained, adding that along with reduced beer selections, his bar imports more Prince Edward Island mussels than any other establishment in Illinois, which remains unaffected by the tariffs.
The chilling impacts of the Trump administration’s actions are evident, affecting Canadian visitors to the U.S.
Two Canadian travel companies informed local media in April that they were cancelling all summer trips to Chicago as a direct result of Trump’s policies.
Lemcke shared that his relatives in Canada are also refraining from visiting the United States.
“None of them will come here,” he said. “My family and friends have said they are going to lay off traveling to the United States until there is less animosity, and I’m not sure that will happen anytime soon.”
While the future of tariffs and Trump’s controversial comments remains uncertain, patrons at Hopleaf felt it was crucial to demonstrate solidarity with Canada.
Rob Lundskow, another attendee, emphasized the importance of ordering Canadian beers to show support.
“It’s not American to be prejudiced against other countries,” he remarked.
“We should be supporting their businesses and pushing back against this.”
When asked what message she would convey to Canadians amidst the current climate, Kraus succinctly stated, “I didn’t vote for him.”
This Canada Day celebration at Hopleaf bar highlighted strong sentiments and unity among those who respect Canada and wish to counteract the divisive politics under the Trump administration.
image source from：chicago
