They go to Palm Springs, Calif. for the tropical climate and vibrant arts and culture scene. Sometimes it’s the year-round golfing or exciting nightlife that draws them in. But amid a volatile stock market聽triggered by U.S. President Donald Trump’s global trade war and escalating U.S.-Canada tensions, some Canadian snowbirds are looking elsewhere for their winter escape.
Palm Springs 鈥 whose economy is heavily reliant on Canadian tourism 鈥 is raising banners across the city to show appreciation for its northern visitors, in hopes of staving off a Canadian boycott.
The red banners have a simple design: a Canadian flag with a heart, “Palm Springs” written above it and “Canada” below. They’re meant to send a simple and clear message, Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said: “We’re with you.”聽
“The Canadians who’ve been coming here, actually, for decades 鈥 those who stay two or three months out of the year 鈥 they’re not tourists. They’ve become friends. They’re neighbours, and they’re part of our communities,” deHarte told the Star.
The banners are meant to send a simple, clear message, Palm Springs Mayor Ron deHarte said: 鈥淲e鈥檙e with you.鈥澛
Myung J. Chun/TNS”(It’s) to tell our friends, our neighbours, and members of our community that we support them, we will stand with them, and the same Palm Springs they fell in love with will be here to welcome them back when the time is right.”
Located in the western region of the Coachella Valley, Palm Springs welcomes over 300,000 Canadian visitors annually, deHarte said, representing about $300 million (U.S.) to the city’s economy. Canadians also own over seven per cent of second homes in the Coachella Valley, according to a 2022 report by the Greater Palm Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau 鈥 more than any other non-American group in the area.
Every retiree will face a challenging environment at some point; there鈥檚 always periods of correction, inflation and instability.
Every retiree will face a challenging environment at some point; there鈥檚 always periods of correction, inflation and instability.
A widespread Canadian boycott, deHarte warned, would have a “huge impact,” potentially leading to the loss of 2,000 local jobs next year. Canadian tourists, who deHarte says are Palm Springs’ No. 1 consistent travel source, typically head back home around this time of year.
“These challenges from the administration are real. And I feel the disappointment that Canadians have in the United States right now. We have great disappointment,” he said. “Time, we can only hope, will聽heal wounds 鈥 when these policies get back to being normal and treating our neighbours with the respect and dignity that neighbours should treat each other with.”
As talk of a Canadian boycott started to gain traction, local business owner Keith McCormick, who runs a car auction house, had a conversation with deHarte. It was there, the mayor says, that McCormick “planted the seed” to put up banners across the city. Palm Springs had done it decades ago for a different group, so they thought: why not do it again?
They acted quickly. With no room in his mayoral budget, deHarte petitioned city council members to contribute from their community funds. Every one of them agreed.
The city plans to keep them up for at least a few more weeks 鈥 and will likely roll them out again when next winter comes around.
“Our hope has to be that the policies will adjust from the administration, and as next season approaches, there may be a much more comfortable feeling about travelling to Palm Springs,” deHarte said. “There’s concern about crossing the border, at a lot of levels 鈥 and we understand.
“We get it.”
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