Port Angeles – As Canadians consider travel bans and consumer boycotts amid a potential tariff war with the United States, the City of Port Angeles is preparing to show its love for its friends across the Strait of Juan De Fuca.
Port Angeles has been linked to Victoria’s harbor since 1959 by Black Ball Ferry Line’s MV Coho, which has transported millions of passengers between the countries over the decades.
So when the Coho comes out of a five-week refit on Thursday, February 20, the Chamber of Commerce and many of the locals want Canadians to know that, no matter what happens politically in the coming months, they’re going to celebrate the continued connection.
Sam Grello, Executive Director of the Port Angeles Waterfront District told attendees at Wednesday’s Chamber luncheon that the city is planning a warm and enthusiastic welcome for disembarking Canadians.
“We were planning to do this before all of the news came out in the last couple of weeks about tariffs. This is not a partisan event, we’re not protesting anything. We are celebrating our community’s relationship with Victoria, which is very important. So, we will be getting national Canadian television coverage of this next week. CHEK news is going to be out, CTV’s going to be out, Eric Wilkinson with King 5 News is going to be out, as well as KOMO. So this is an opportunity for us to show the Port Angeles Waterfront District to a larger community. Show that we are an engaged community, and that we’re doing some cool stuff.”
This is a public event. The welcome party will be dressed in red and white with flags. A band will be playing, businesses will be offering discounts and there will be an “ask an American” booth, where curious Canadians can chat with friendly Americans about anything, according to Grello.
If you’d like to be a part of next Thursday’s welcoming party, be at the dock on the waterfront when the Coho ferry comes in at around noon.