The "Elbows Up" Campaign: A Canadian Freelancer’s Take on Why It’s Kind of Embarrassing

By Dara Jerde

I’m Canadian—born in Regina, raised on prairie winters and double-doubles, now freelancing out of Toronto. I love this country: the quiet resilience, the way we rally around hockey, the unspoken pride in our quirks. But lately, I’ve been cringing at the "Elbows Up" campaign that’s taken over since March 2025. What started as a hockey nod to Gordie Howe’s grit—sparked by Mike Myers on Saturday Night Live—has ballooned into a nationalist circus, all because of Donald Trump’s tariffs and his offhand annexation jab. As a Canadian, I get the impulse to push back, but this elbow-raising defiance against the U.S. feels less like strength and more like an overblown, embarrassing tantrum. Here’s why.

From Rink to Rally: A Metaphor Gone Wild

"Elbows Up" makes sense on the ice—keep your guard up, protect the puck, maybe throw a subtle jab. It’s tough, it’s Canadian, it’s Gordie Howe. But turning it into a battle cry over Trump’s 25% tariffs on goods, 10% on energy, and that extra 25% on steel and aluminum? That’s where it gets ridiculous. Canada’s not scrumming in the corners against the U.S.; we’re just haggling over trade terms with a neighbour who buys 76% of our exports—$421 billion USD last year, per 2024 stats. Trump’s annexation talk is bluster, not a blueprint—61% of Americans don’t even want us, says Data for Progress. Yet here we are, rallying in Ottawa (March 9) and Toronto (March 22), acting like we’re fending off an invasion instead of a policy spat.

I watched the Nathan Phillips Square crowd wave maple leaf flags and chant "Canada is not for sale," and I felt second-hand embarrassment. It’s not sovereignty at stake—it’s bruised feelings. The U.S. isn’t mobilizing tanks; Trump’s just playing his usual loudmouth game. Meanwhile, we’ve got Jim Cuddy crooning We Used to Be the Best of Friends and Trudeau name-dropping "Elbows Up" like it’s a foreign policy fix. As a Canadian, I’m all for pride, but this feels like we’re overacting in a drama nobody else is watching.

Boycotts and Bars: Cute, But Come On

The practical side of this is even sillier. Canadians are boycotting U.S. goods—swapping Napa Valley wine for Okanagan Valley, ditching Americanos for "Canadianos" (whatever that means), and yanking Jack Daniel’s off bar shelves. A Narrative Research poll says 75% of us are "buying local" now. I admire the spirit—I’ve got a Peace by Chocolate "Elbows Up Canada Bar" on my desk as I write this—but it’s impractical. The U.S. supplies 60% of our imports, from car parts to meds. You can’t elbow your way out of that reality. And those tariffs? They’re jacking up costs here too—Little Brown Jug brewery in Winnipeg’s looking at a 5-6 cent hike per can because of U.S. aluminum. We’re flexing, but it’s our own toes getting stepped on.

Then there’s the anthem-booing at hockey games and the red-and-white candy bars. It’s petty, not powerful. I was at a Leafs game recently when fans drowned out "The Star-Spangled Banner" with "O Canada." Sure, it’s a rush, but it’s also kind of childish—like we’re mad the U.S. didn’t say "sorry" first. As a Canadian, I’d rather we save the energy for something that actually moves the needle, not symbolic stunts that barely register south of the border.

The U.S. Doesn’t Care—Why Should We Overreact?

Here’s the kicker: the U.S. isn’t matching our melodrama. Trump’s tariffs and annexation quips are a blip down there—Americans are too busy with their own chaos (inflation, Musk’s latest X rant) to care about our elbow antics. Their GDP’s $25 trillion; ours is $2.2 trillion. They’re the loud, messy giant; we’re the polite neighbour who’s suddenly yelling. I’ve got family in Minnesota—they don’t even know "Elbows Up" is a thing. Meanwhile, we’re treating it like a defining moment. It’s embarrassing how mismatched this is.

Canada’s always leaned into being the quieter sibling—less "rah-rah" than the U.S., more Lightfoot than Springsteen. I’ve written about that understated vibe for years, from Saskatoon zines to Toronto mags. So seeing us pivot to this chest-thumping, elbow-raising spectacle feels off-brand. It’s not us. We’re mad about tariffs and a dumb Trump quote, but we’re acting like it’s 1812 all over again. The U.S. shrugs; we overcompensate. It’s ridiculous—and as a Canadian, it’s mortifying to watch.

Lower the Elbows, Play Smarter

I get it—Trump’s annoying. The tariffs sting, and his annexation jab was a low blow. But "Elbows Up" isn’t the answer. It’s loud, it’s flashy, it’s embarrassing when you’re the only one in the fight. As a freelancer who’s covered everything from pipeline protests to craft beer trends, I’d rather see Canada play to its strengths—quietly ramp up trade with Asia via CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership), boost our own industries, negotiate with Washington like adults. Forbes floated an "Elbows Up" leadership idea—assertive but strategic. That I could get behind. This? It’s just noise.

So, fellow Canadians, let’s drop the elbows. The U.S. isn’t trembling—they’re barely noticing. We’re better than this overblown campaign. Let’s win the way we always have: steady, smart, and maybe a little smug about it. That’s the Canada I’m proud of—not this awkward, elbow-flailing mess.

Dara Jerde is a a freelance writer for Veritas Expositae

You can reach her at dara.jerde@veritasexpositae.com