Related: episode 653 of 99% Invisible mentions Peace Arch Park, which is along the US-Canada border in Blaine, Washington, and Surrey, British Columbia. Anyone from either country can enter the park and mingle with people from the other country. There's supposedly strong incentive, because of a treaty from the War of 1812, for both countries to keep their side of the park open:

If Canada broke the treaty, in theory, the U.S. could lay claim to parts of Ontario and Quebec. And if America broke it, Canada could get parts of Maine, Michigan, and Wisconsin. So, basically, North American geography as we know it is contingent on this early 1800s treaty remaining in effect.

The podcast was from December -- an eternity ago in these interesting times -- and I don't know whether anything has changed since then.

https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/653-beyond-the-99-inv...

It's not an unfair reaction to the main entrance being closed, but it is a little sad.

The northern border used to be so much more flexible and I don't see any real benefits from doing all this.

Not the first time something like this has happened either. A small road in Montana/Alberta is being sectioned off because it sits on the border... https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly7gl95nnpo

That's a pretty good example of US-Canada relations. That entrance isn't getting closed when the US regains its sanity. The new reality is that it exists now.

There’s a joke to be made with this headline: is there now an entrance for Canadians, Americans and a new 3rd one for Quebeckers that refuse to use an entrance for Canadians?

wow, that caused me quite a bit of confusion

> Haskell Free Library

Has zero to do with haskell the language: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haskell_Free_Library_and_Opera...

It should not have been necessary, but this is the new reality under the U.S.'s recent lack of probity.

I'm so glad both towns an other private donors pulled together to make this happen.

As an American, I'm deeply ashamed of m̶y̶ this country.

I don't expect the damage to be undone within my lifetime.

Maybe it's time for a European President to come and visit, speak these important words[1]:

> Mr. Trump, tear down this door!

[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tear_down_this_wall!

All of North America should have open borders like a Schengen zone. This xenophobia is bad for the economy.

Just makes me sad.

"Mr. Trump, tear down this wall."

[dead]

en tant que séparatiste québécois, moi, ça me va

This idea is adorable, but ultimately untenable if either country drifts in its views on how its citizens should behave.

I suspect that Canada isn't fond of how Americans view guns, and I suspect that the US is not quite on board with blasphemy/hurty-words laws. I suspect the divergence will grow.