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Church Street in Burlington, Vt. is getting a new name this summer
The ceremonial gesture is meant to draw Canadian tourists and highlight Burlington's opposition to President Donald Trump's border policies, officials said.
Church Street, the iconic pedestrian marketplace in the heart of Burlington, Vermont will be temporarily renamed this summer to “Canada Street/Rue Canada” in a ceremonial effort meant to bolster connections with America’s northern neighbor.
The Burlington City Council unanimously approved a resolution Monday codifying the change. Councilor Becca Brown McKnight sported a shirt with a maple leaf on it and handed out miniature Canadian flags to her colleagues before she introduced the measure.
McKnight said the move was a direct response to policies enacted by the Trump administration that are harming relations between Vermont and Canada. Border crossings from Canada into the state have dropped to between 30% and 40% since this time last year, she said.
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“These big declines, they aren’t just data points, they’re a very clear sign that the Trump administration’s damaging political rhetoric and inhumane immigration policies have discouraged travel and hurt the goodwill between our two countries,” McKnight said.
About 5% of Vermont’s visitors are from Canada, according to the resolution. This amounts to about 750,000 visitors annually that contribute approximately $150 million to the Vermont economy. Church Street Marketplace, packed with shops and restaurants, is a top destination for visitors to Burlington.
The street will bear the new name until Sept. 1, and councilors are leaving open the possibility to renew the effort annually if there is enough community support. Although this is a “symbolic and lighthearted gesture,” it still sends the clear message that Burlington is “about connection, not conflict,” McKnight said.
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Councilor Eugene Bergman voiced his support for the idea and said that it also is important because it sends a message to those working for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
“This message tells those folks that Americans, that Vermonters, need Canadian business and that we need Canadian visitors,” he said.
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