Standing with Canada

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 29/03/2025 (365 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I stand with Canada. It is astonishing and deeply disappointing to witness the unnecessary strain our political leaders have placed on one of our closest allies.

With a few ill-chosen words, they have risked alienating an entire nation, casting a shadow over a relationship that has been steadfast for over a century.

My connection to Canada runs deep. On my father’s side, my great-grandparents emigrated from England to Ontario’s north shore of Lake Erie in the late 1800s. My great-grandfather, Theodore Kyte, was a distinguished architect and builder.

His legacy endures, his name still etched on the cornerstones of public buildings throughout the region.

My grandfather, Charles Kyte, married Ethel Martindale, and shortly after 1900, they moved to northern Minnesota. They settled in the town of Mesabi, a place that no longer exists but was once a hub for the exploration of iron ore on what is now the Iron Range. My grandfather, a steam engineer, operated the massive lifts that hauled iron ore from the pits at the Lake Mine near Aurora, Minn.

Our family’s bond with Canada was tested by war. My great-uncle Stanley had also immigrated to Minnesota. But when the First World War erupted, he was frustrated by the United States’ hesitancy to join the fight. Driven by loyalty to his roots, he returned to Canada, enlisting in Winnipeg with the 1st Canadians to fight in Europe.

Over the years, my wife, Dianne, and I have explored every province of Canada. We’ve danced to sea shanties at a kitchen party on the rugged coast of Newfoundland, savoured blueberry tea at the historic St. James Hotel in Victoria, and marvelled at the breathtaking beauty of Jasper and Lake Louise. We’ve cast fishing lines into the serene lakes north of Kenora and near Winnipeg, always greeted by warm, industrious people who embodied kindness and resilience.

Canada has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the United States through the most challenging moments of the last century. On D-Day, Canadian troops stormed Juno Beach with unparalleled bravery. In the Second World War, they contributed as large a percentage of their population to the fight as we did. After 9/11, they grieved with us. They supported us through conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Time and again, they proved themselves our unwavering friends.

Today, Canada is vital to our economy, supplying key manufacturing that supports American industries. Ironically, it’s our own strong dollar, born from flawed financial policies that drives manufacturing across our northern border.

Yet, instead of gratitude or strategic partnership, our leaders chose to insult Canada, recklessly suggesting annexation.

Let us be clear: annexation will never happen. But the damage from this thoughtless rhetoric is real. We haven’t just offended the Canadian government; we’ve disrespected every Canadian citizen.

It’s a blunder of international proportions, and it must be corrected.

On a lighter note, Northfield, Minn., is finally getting a decent ice arena.

I propose we invite Canadian youth hockey teams, ages 15 and 16, to challenge our junior varsity squads. From what I’ve seen of Canadian hockey, this exchange would teach our Northfield Raiders valuable lessons in skill, strategy, and teamwork.

It might even pave the way for future state champions.

I stand with Canada because they deserve better from us. They are our neighbours, our partners, and our friends. I often catch myself humming O Canada, a beautiful anthem that reflects the spirit of a remarkable nation.

I can only hope that we find a way to mend this rift.

Canada deserves our respect, our friendship, and our sincerest apology. If we are wise, they might forgive us and our partnership will emerge even stronger.

Charles Kyte writes an opinion piece once a month for the Northfield News in Minnesota — where this piece was first published on March 26. Kyte is a retired school superintendent, business owner and head of the MN Association of School Administrators.