A Shout-out to our American Friends

[Edgemontvillage]

As many of you know, the US-Canada land border had been closed since March, 2020 marking the beginning of the pandemic, and it's remained closed ever since except to essential vehicle traffic. For many of us who live in Canada its created challenges sourcing parts and supplies from the US to further our restoration ambitions. Those of us who live close to the border (80% of the Canadian population lives within 50 miles of the US border) often have parts shipped to a US-side border town where we can pick them up and bring them home cross-border without incurring the significant extra cost and time delays to ship them direct. In a few cases parts vendors and private sellers will not ship outside the US. The pandemic has brought out the best in many of our fellow enthusiasts for which I'm very appreciative. In one case (due to the border closure) I couldn't access some parts and supplies I had shipped to a receiver in Blaine WA prior to the start of the pandemic and couldn't arrange with them to have the items re-shipped to me. One of our American friends who lives in the Seattle area offered to pick up the stranded parts (a 2 1/2 hour drive each-way!). He then re-boxed them and dropped them off at a FedEx location where they could be delivered to my home. I had been without those parts for 11 months - what an incredible gesture. On another occasion a friend in Arizona who is known to many of you on this forum, received some restoration supplies from a commercial vendor who wouldn't ship to Canada. Our friend in turn re-boxed and shipped the supplies to my home. There are many more examples. We have long enjoyed a strong fellowship with our US friends in this hobby however such acts have taken it to another level for me. Thank you for your friendship and support for which I am truly grateful!