POINT ROBERTS, WA — In a bid to rekindle the cross-border connection with its northern neighbors, the Point Roberts International Marketplace is offering a special Easter weekend deal: a boosted exchange rate of $0.80 USD for every Canadian dollar — translating to CAD $1.25 per USD — cash only.
The offer comes as a lifeline for a town heavily dependent on Canadian shoppers but hit hard in recent years by border closures, weak currency exchange, and lingering political tensions.
Ali Hayton, owner of the Marketplace, says the move is a goodwill gesture and a business strategy born of necessity. “We’ve been through years of struggle — the pandemic, political fallout, and now a rough exchange rate. This is our way of saying: we want you back,” she said in an interview with Global News.
The current bank rate sits closer to USD $0.72 per CAD $1, making American goods significantly pricier for Canadian visitors. Offering a more favorable rate — albeit not at par — is the town’s way of easing the economic burden without sinking their bottom line.
“We’d love to offer parity, but it’s not sustainable,” said Hayton. “This is our middle ground — a nudge to say, ‘we miss you.’”
A Community Built on Cross-Border Ties
Point Roberts, a geographic anomaly of around 1,100 people in Washington state but accessible only through Canada, has always depended on cross-border flow for survival. The local store, Hayton notes, is built to serve a much larger customer base than just the town’s residents.
“If this store was just for Point Roberts locals, it’d be a quarter of the size,” she said. “We wouldn’t even need two tills per register.”
Shoppers aren’t just being lured for groceries — a newly opened golf course, restaurants, and parcel services add more reasons to cross the border this weekend.
Economic Pressures and Political Fallout
Despite signs of recovery, the scars of the COVID-19 pandemic are still fresh. Hayton also pointed to recent political tensions that added to cross-border hesitation.
“There was no excuse for the White House rhetoric — calling Trudeau a ‘governor’ or joking about a 51st state. It was harmful,” she said.
Further complicating matters are concerns over potential tariffs and fees when Canadians bring goods back across the border — a deterrent still weighing on many would-be visitors.
But Hayton remains hopeful: “The emotions have cooled. We just want Canadians to know — if you want us here during the good times, we need your support during the hard ones too.”