The underground tunnels in Canada’s most infamous metropolis have all the time been open to Individuals, together with rumoured hotshot gangsters – they usually need to hold it that method.
The Tunnels of Moose Jaw, together with different companies within the metropolis of roughly 35,000 folks west of Regina, say they’re in step with a brand new marketing campaign to welcome Canada’s southern neighbours at a time when tariffs have pushed elbows up.
It’s not private, it’s simply enterprise.
“It’s typical of Moose Jaw, this open arms method,” mentioned Bobby Hill, normal supervisor on the tunnels, in a current interview.
“We traditionally have been referred to as The Pleasant Metropolis.”
Mayor James Murdock launched the marketing campaign in March, utilizing U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs as a chance to welcome Individuals and others to the town.
“Overlook about annexation, come for rest,” Murdock says in a cheeky promotional video.
The mayor, who was not accessible for an interview, has mentioned the town is worried about tariffs and identified the U.S. greenback is “trumping” Canada’s, permitting Individuals to stretch their {dollars} additional.
Enterprise house owners say Canadians can reap the benefits of the financial savings by not spending their cash down south.
Get each day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
On the tunnels, guests are taken via an outline of the Twenties, the place bootleggers, gamblers and gangsters run unlawful actions underground.
City legend says Al Capone, the infamous Chicago mobster, frequented Moose Jaw throughout Prohibition. However there is no such thing as a definitive proof he ever got here to the town.
Hill mentioned summer season is the busiest time for the tunnels, which see about 70,000 patrons a 12 months. About 20 per cent of tourists are American.
“I’m not too positive how (the tariffs) will actually affect our enterprise,” Hill mentioned.
“We do hope that Canadians will begin to consider home journey a bit of bit extra, however we don’t need to overlook about our American mates.”
Subsequent door to the tunnels, Mike Thul runs the Previous Instances Outdated Time Images and Items retailer.
Guests come for photoshoots and gown up in Twenties clothes, together with flapper clothes, fedoras, followers, cigarettes and tommy weapons.
“You examine Al Capone. He wasn’t an excellent particular person and right here we’re selling that,” Thul joked.
“However I assume it’s working for us. Bought to money in in some way.”
He mentioned he’s heard from family and friends who plan to keep away from america this summer season.
“I do see it as a profit. I additionally assume extra Individuals will come right here,” Thul mentioned.
Moose Jaw not too long ago hosted the BKT World Males’s Curling Championship, which drew in hundreds of spectators from throughout the globe.
“They have been spending,” Thul mentioned of the Individuals who visited.
However the commerce dispute might have tangible results on different companies.
Yvette Moore, the proprietor of Yvette Moore Gallery, mentioned tariffs would possibly push up body costs, but it surely hasn’t but been an issue.
“I’ve been shocked with the gross sales we’ve had in the previous couple of months,” Moore mentioned.
Crystal Milburn from the Prairie Bee Meadery mentioned tariffs might ultimately have an effect on the corporate’s giftware and bottle caps.
She additionally has issues about shopper spending ought to Canada and the U.S. go right into a recession.
“I are usually a fairly optimistic particular person. I wish to assume that we’re going to discover a method via it doesn’t matter what occurs,” Milburn mentioned.
She mentioned there’s a distinction between Individuals and the Trump administration.
“Your common American on the road isn’t the one inflicting the issues,” Milburn mentioned. “We completely need to see you, we would like you to go to, we would like you to come back and get to know Canada as Canada.”
© 2025 The Canadian Press
Source link