A Warm Welcome While Crossing the Canadian Border

A Warm Welcome at the Canadian Border
By: Joe Stabb

I don’t normally write editorials, but I was so moved when crossing the border from the United States into Canada to attend the opening ceremonies at World Pride Toronto that I just had to share and give a shout out to the Officer and Canada Border Services Agency.

I was driving across the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge between the United States and Canada on my way to cover the opening ceremonies for World Pride Toronto.  I have crossed the border dozens of times since I was a child for both leisure and business. I pulled up to Officer Bruch’s gate and handed him my passport and he asked why I was traveling to Canada.  I explained that I was covering World Pride in Toronto for Connextions Magazine.

Normally, I would have been asked a couple of other random questions and then sent on my way.  Officer Bruch began to tell me how refreshing it is to see gays and lesbians crossing the border.  Bruch began to say that LGBT people are always happy, even when waiting hours to cross the border, they are always happy and that makes him smile when he is having a bad day at work.  He continued to tell me that he wishes he could put a rainbow flag on his post and only service LGBT people as they crossed the border.

To be honest, this was a delight to hear and a refreshing start to the day as I entered Canada.  Remember when you travel, that the impression you leave on others around the world do not just reflect on yourself, but everyone that you identify a connection with.

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