Remote Surveillance Trailer in Point Roberts, WA

If the shoe was on the other foot and Canada’s prime minister was talking about absorbing the U.S., “there’d be tanks on the border within an hour.”

Point Roberts spokesman Brian Calder made the point recently during a May 20 report on CNN that showed the sorry state of U.S.-Canada relations and how it’s affecting Point Roberts, Wa.

But the CNN story is just one of many by the U.S. press that describes the economic despair and disaffection that President Donald Trump’s tariffs and threats have brought to Point Roberts.

Calder, who used to be the Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce president, says he’s lost count of the number of interviews he’s given on the topic.

Since the new year, Reuters, AP, PBS, KOMO News, and King5 TV (with AP story), CBS, NPR, Bloomberg, The Seattle Times and the Cascadia Daily News and Bellingham Herald, among several others, have all covered the community’s condition.

“Nothing is normal these days, in Point Roberts,” says an April 29 report by Jonathan Vigliotti with CBS News.

And on March 24, PBS reports, “Tensions between the U.S. and Canada have spiked to a level not seen before in modern times, thanks to Trump’s on-again, off-again threat over the past two months to place taxes on a long list of goods going across the border . . .

“Many in Point Roberts don’t blame the Canadians for their disdain over Trump’s perceived sovereignty threat. Instead, there’s a deep sadness for both sides,” said PBS.

In a March 3 report from KOMO News, local realtor Wayne Lyle and Point Roberts Chamber of Commerce president, makes the point that Point Roberts is connected to Canada.

“We don't want Canada to think we're the bad guys,” he said. “Please don't take it out on us.”

Farther away, the headline in the racy tabloid Daily Mail, in the U.K. reads, “Tensions rise at gorgeous coastal exclave where locals must drive through Canada to reach mainland U.S.”

As well, in a May 5 story on border towns, the New York Post quotes International Marketplace owner Ali Hayton saying her store won’t survive without Canada, while Fox Business focused on the April closing of Point to Point Parcel and noted that car traffic into the U.S. dropped by more than 50 percent in the first week of April.

Calder confirmed that number on May 26, saying that the number of crossings in Point Roberts in April was about 61,000, noting that’s half the 120,150 crossings in April 2019.

A National Public Radio article on May 10 by Martha Ann Overland focused on the relocation of the Rubber Duck Museum from Point Roberts to Delta later this year and quoted co-owner Krystal King who summed up Canadians’ feelings.

“They don't like their sovereignty being threatened,” King told NPR. “They feel like the only tool they have is boycotting the United States and keeping those tourist dollars out of there. I'd say it's a pretty effective tool.”

A Point Roberts shop is closing permanently after over 24 years of business, as the owner blames recent actions by the Trump administration for her loss of revenue and decision to close.

Beth Calder owns Point To Point Parcel, an independent package shipping and receiving business that provides shipping addresses for Canadians, allowing them to shop online and pick up in store, avoiding certain tariffs and extra shipping costs.

“We have never fully recovered from COVID, and unfortunately we were constantly struggling to find employees and because we did not own the property we were not allowed to offer 24/7 locker pickup service, which would have really helped us,” Calder wrote in an email to The Herald.

The shop is closing permanently on Saturday, April 19, which will be the last day shipments can be picked up.

“With the new presidency and all the comments our president made about Canada and Canadian citizens, a great part of our active client base were very upset and very vocal that they would not be back for four years. By the first week of March we had lost 75 percent of our incoming shipments daily,” Calder said.

“We hope and wish that this hard choice will strengthen another business, if not multiple businesses in Point Roberts, to keep their doors open and see them grow. I am fifth generation in my family here in Point Roberts, so it means a lot to me to help support our small town and do my part to help the remaining businesses,” Calder said.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Patrol data, 194,912 travelers entered Point Roberts from Canada between January and March. In 2024, 214,187 travelers entered Point Roberts from Canada — a difference of nearly 20,000 travelers year to year for the three-month period.

This year, the number of travelers from Canada to Point Roberts has fluctuated, as the number of travelers decreased from January to February, but increased last month.

Here’s how many travelers entered the U.S. through Point Roberts recently:

▪ January 2025: 73,104 travelers

▪ February 2025: 58,577 travelers

▪ March 2025: 63,231 travelers

In 2024, the amount of travelers entering through Point Roberts also fluctuated:

▪ January 2024: 62,774

▪ February 2024: 67,286

▪ March 2024: 84,157

Point to Point Parcel is at 1591 McKenzie Way.

Whatcom County’s candidate filing period for the August 5 primary election ended, and 149 candidates have officially filed to run for 100 open offices.

Offices up for election this summer include positions on Whatcom County Council, Blaine school district, Port of Bellingham commission, among others.

Beginning with Point Roberts races, following is a list of candidates running for local office:

Point Roberts Park and Recreation District 1, Commissioner, Position 3: Mike Bell and Travis Robb. Position is currently held by Matt Wang who is not running for re-election.

Point Roberts Park and Recreation District 1, Commissioner, Position 4: Doug Shier, Izaac Wilkowski and Bronwyn Glor. Position is currently held by Stephen Falk who is not running for re-election.

Fire Protection District 5, Commissioner, Position 3: Incumbent Patrick Harper is running unopposed.

Point Roberts Water District 4, Commissioner, Position 3: Grant Heitman and Rhonda Granger. Position is currently held by Arthur Reber who is not running for re-election.

Point Roberts Public Hospital District, Commissioner, Position 2: Allison Calder, Jen Olson Kurcz, Alyssa Clark, Alice Strombom and Solomon Loop. Position is currently held by Stephen Falk who is not running for re-election.

Cemetery District 8, Commissioner, Position 3: Incumbent Pauline DeHaan will run unopposed.

Whatcom County Positions:

Whatcom County Superior Court, Judge Position 5: Jennifer Slattery, who was appointed to the new judgeship last year, will run unopposed.

Whatcom County Council, District 1: Incumbent Kaylee Galloway will run unopposed.

Whatcom County Council, District 2: Elizabeth Boyle, Maya Morales and Mike Cullum. Incumbent Todd Donovan will not seek reelection.

Whatcom County Council, District 3: Incumbent Tyler Byrd, Jessica Rienstra, Kyle Christensen and Daniel Probst.

Whatcom County Council, At-Large Position A: Incumbent Barry Buchanan and Misty Flowers.

Blaine School District 503, Director, District 3 (representing roughly the north half of Birch Bay): Bob Feaster and Jim Shaver. Incumbent and board president Cliff Freeman is not running again.

Blaine School District 503, Director, District 4 (representing generally the south half of Birch Bay east of Blaine Road): Incumbent Ryan Swinburnson is running unopposed.

Blaine School District 503, Director, District 5 (representing most of Semiahmoo and Blaine between Dakota and California creeks): Chelsea Belarmino is running unopposed.

Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 1 (representing parts of Bellingham, Fairhaven, Lake Whatcom and Van Zandt): Incumbent Michael Shepard will run unopposed.

Port of Bellingham Commissioner, District 2 (representing Lynden, Maple Falls, Everson, Deming and parts of Bellingham): Incumbent Ken Bell, Carly James and Kaylin A. Bosley. Paul Burrill initially filed to run but rescinded his bid.

The deadline for candidates to submit voters’ pamphlet content is Tuesday, May 20. Ballots are expected to be mailed July 16, and the last day for new voters to register online is July 28.

Results for the August 5 primary election will be certified by August 19, and the general election will be held November 4. The primary election is a top two system, meaning the two candidates with the most votes will advance to the November general election, regardless of party.

For a full list of candidates, visit votewa.gov. For more information about Whatcom County elections, contact the auditor’s office at 360/778-5102 or elections@co.whatcom.wa.us.