Saskatoon / 650 CKOM
Jul 21, 2021 | 5:50 PM
Gateway Cities Golf Course s clubhouse is located on the American side of the border, but it s nine holes are on the Canadian side, leaving the course stuck in the middle of the closed border. (Submitted)
When the news came out that the Canadian land border would be opening, even a crack, Kaylah Turner said she felt relief more than anything.
Turner is the mayor of North Portal, the Saskatchewan village set right at the border crossing into North Dakota. She said some businesses did alright during the 16 months the border has been closed to non-essential travel, but others like the duty-free shop really took a hit.
“It seems like we’re almost in East and West Berlin,” Clemens said.
Canadian officials announced this week that fully-vaccinated Americans can enter Canada starting Aug. 9 without a need to quarantine, provided they can show proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. However, the United States has signalled it won’t allow Canadian travellers across until at least Aug. 21.
Officials on both sides have cited fears about the extra-contagious Delta variant, which threatens to upend reopening plans as vaccination campaigns stall.
In the meantime communities like Noonan, where friendships and economies straddle the 49th parallel, are feeling the continued frustration of shutdown.