Port Angeles Welcomes Coho Ferry Amid Tensions

PORT ANGELES, Wash. — The arrival of the Coho ferry after a five-week hiatus drew a large, enthusiastic crowd of more than 150 American residents on Tuesday at the Port Angeles dock. The event marked the first sailing of the ferry since its annual refit, creating a vibrant scene as boats in the water displayed Canadian flags and honked in celebration.

According to Marc Abshire, executive director of the Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce, the local community aimed to send a strong message to Canadian visitors amid rising tensions related to tariffs and trade between the two countries. “We want them to know that if they choose to come, we welcome them with open arms. That’s the bottom line. We’re here for them,” Abshire said.

The ferry’s significance is more than just a transportation link; it symbolizes the close relationship between Port Angeles and Victoria, British Columbia. Many residents in Port Angeles have familial ties to Canada or hold dual citizenship and are eager to reaffirm their connections. Aimee Radley, a long-time Port Angeles resident with family in Quebec, expressed her sentiments: “Why wouldn’t we want Canada to know that not all Americans think alike? We need to be together,” she stated.

The economic impact of the Coho is considerable, generating over $64 million for the Port Angeles economy and creating more than 700 jobs in 2019, according to Black Ball Ferry Line, the ferry’s operating company. Ryan Burle, one of its Canadian owners, emphasized the ferry’s ongoing commitment to service despite international tensions. “It is what it is. We are going to provide service and do as well as we can, not get political,” Burle said. “We understand peoples’ concerns. So that’s all we can do.”

The welcome event was organized by Sam Grello, another local advocate for the relationship between the two communities. He underscored the significance of the cultural and economic ties that bind Port Angeles and Victoria. “People in Port Angeles know about the importance of our relationship with Victoria. Not just economically but culturally. We’ve got families that live on both sides of the Strait, as well as friends,” Grello stated.

As the Coho ferry resumed its daily services, July 12 marked a turning point for residents longing for connection. Susan See, a Sidney resident and American, acknowledged the frustrations felt by many Canadians. “Canadians are really angry, and they are very patriotic, and I’m proud of them,” she said while aboard the Coho traveling to Port Angeles.

Despite the current climate, residents in Port Angeles are determined to show their Canadian friends and family just how much they value their presence and the shared history that extends back to the ferry’s inception in 1959. The message from Port Angeles is clear: community ties endure.