The border was expected to be open on October 21, but earlier this month, the U.S. announced it would allow land border crossings starting November 8.
Those in Sault Ste. Marie can’t wait to welcome back their neighbors across the bridge to Canada. Throughout the border closure, Sault Ste. Marie Tourism Bureau Director Linda Hoath said communication between Sault Ste. Marie Michigan and Sault Ste. Marie Ontario has been different.
“We haven’t seen some of our friends and our families and people that I work with,” she said. “I’ve been going back and forth on email and Zoom with somebody in Sault Ontario that’s on a board with me. I said ‘it’s going to be so nice to see them again’.”
Canadian businesses working with the Sault Ste. Marie Economic Development Corporation haven’t been able to do much since the closure.
“Its a hardship for them not to be able to run their business and not expand in our community so yes it has a tremendous impact on us since we’ve gone international in our efforts,” said Jeff Holt, Sault Ste. Marie EDC director.
While there have been many extensions to the closed border between the U.S. and Canada, Holt is hopeful this latest date of November 8th will be the final date.
“We’ve had many many delays over the last six or eight months and we’ve become accustomed to that,” said Holt. “We understand the health challenges that it presents. We’ve heard it before, but we’re optimistic this time.”
As long as the border is reopened on schedule, only fully vaccinated Canadians will be allowed to cross into the United States.
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