Canada Day 2025
True. North. Strong. Free. And Butter Tarts.
Friends,
I would like to share a simple message about what I have been seeing from Canadians as they prepare for this Canada Day.
Yes, it’s a day of celebration. But this year, it’s also a day of defiance. Because this is a Canada Day unlike any we have ever experienced.
Never in our country's history have we faced a threat from a more powerful nation that brags that it will break our will to remain an independent people.
Think back to July 1, 1940. Canadian soldiers were defending the shores of Britain. We were losing young men in the skies over England, and men were going down in the frigid waters of the North Atlantic.
But the threat wasn't on our border with the United States. Canadians enlisted to help fight fascism across the water. Now we are standing on our own, and the threat is coming directly at us.
Canadian media (who have repeatedly missed the mark on the power of resistance) are reporting that sales of Elbows Up paraphernalia are dropping as if we’ve just gone through some passing fad.
It was never a fad. It was a moment that united Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Yes, we love the Elbows Up t-shirts, bumper stickers, and hats. They helped to rally us in the early days of the shock over Trump's attacks on our nation. But now, six months into the Trump threat, Canadians understand this isn’t going away. We are hunkering down. The resistance is maturing.
This Canada Day, we mark the beginning of a new phase in what will be a long fight against the fascist threat on the border. From Canadians I speak with, I know this:
We will not falter. We will not fail. We will stand the gaff.
Canada Day is our day.
We will remain an independent and democratic nation. We will fly our flag proudly — not out of jingoism, but because we are true. North. Strong. Free.
Happy Canada Day, my friends.
Take care of each other and be safe.
Happy Canada Day!
Canada, STRONG & FREE!!
As an old disabled lady in Southern California, your courage & unity give me hope.
Keep the light of your beautiful nation glowing.
We to the south look to you, friends, as our example.
Elbows up!
Butter tarts ready!
Enjoy your day.
💙 💙 💙 🇨🇦
While I am pleased to see so many Canadian flags and "Elbows Up" merchandise, I want to remind everyone that protecting Canada from Trump's aggression requires some degree of personal sacrifice from each and every one of us. What each of us is willing to sacrifice in a personal choice and can take many forms. For some it may be buying Canadian cherries rather than Washington cherries even though they may cost more. For others it may be visiting a Canadian tourist spot this summer rather than Disneyland even though the kids would really enjoy Disneyland. For snow birds it may be forgoing the warm climates of Florida and Arizona, and staying home to watch the local hockey team, or go curling or learning to ski, or any of the other winter activities. Each of us gets to choose whether we will put the needs of our country ahead of our personal preferences or not.