Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

Spazito

(55,185 posts)
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 10:20 AM Feb 2025

Paying for every meal in packed Canadian restaurant, U.S, couple apologizes for Trump politics

Diners in a Windsor, Ont., restaurant were stunned and elated over the weekend when an American couple picked up the bill for the packed establishment — citing U.S. President Donald Trump's divisive rhetoric and their love of Canada.

May Hermiz is the co-owner of Toast on Erie Street. She says the day took an unexpected turn during their lunch rush when the couple from Ann Arbour, Mich., told her they wanted to pay for everyone in the restaurant.

"I was kind of stunned because nobody has ever done that in our nine years of being in business, nobody has ever paid for the whole restaurant," Hermiz told CBC News.

snip

Hermiz said the woman told patrons "she hates what the United States is doing to us and she doesn't support it. And she's so happy we won the hockey game and it's a little token of appreciation for Canadians and how much she loves us and how much she loves supporting local."

"Everyone cheered them on again," Hermiz said.

more

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/american-apology-meal-pays-canada-diner-1.7467020

30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Paying for every meal in packed Canadian restaurant, U.S, couple apologizes for Trump politics (Original Post) Spazito Feb 2025 OP
That is wonderful act of kindness and solidarity with the Canadian patrons bdamomma Feb 2025 #1
American people like Canadian people and vice versa. Goobermints, ... not so much. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Feb 2025 #2
For you Lulu KC Feb 2025 #3
That is hilarious. niyad Feb 2025 #4
LOL! Spazito Feb 2025 #7
Hahaha! That's so funny! I want Canadian accent lessons! Sign me up! BComplex Feb 2025 #14
First laugh of the day award NJCher Feb 2025 #25
KNR niyad Feb 2025 #5
Such a kind rambler_american Feb 2025 #6
🩵💙🩵💙🩵💙🩵 live love laugh Feb 2025 #8
I love this news story and so appreciate what that couple did.... and liberalla Feb 2025 #9
A beatiful gesture, to be sure. NNadir Feb 2025 #10
I miss the pre-911 days. mn9driver Feb 2025 #11
I remember when the southern border was the same. Kali Feb 2025 #13
Me, too, Kali. As a senior in high school, we used to cross the Mexican border for lunch! BComplex Feb 2025 #15
We used to cross all the time. sdfernando Feb 2025 #16
I'm sorry, but that sounds like a rather empty gesture to me. Martin68 Feb 2025 #12
Not empty at all KT2000 Feb 2025 #21
Well hot damn NJCher Feb 2025 #26
Just strikes me as a wealthy American showing off. But that's just me. Martin68 Feb 2025 #27
so for you every silver lining has a cloud eh? NoRethugFriends Feb 2025 #28
No, I just think there would ,must be a better way to support Canada as a whole than to throw money around in random Martin68 Feb 2025 #29
These people were in a situation to do something nice and they did it. Perfect is the enemy of good. NoRethugFriends Feb 2025 #30
If the dictatorship takes hold jayschool2013 Feb 2025 #17
and Hartfourd & Westpourt CT ... how about New Yourk NY ?? Dock_Yard Feb 2025 #22
trump is making it hard to be an American right now LetMyPeopleVote Feb 2025 #18
I vaguely remember a Nostradamus quatrain that mentions 'Invaders from the North'. Aussie105 Feb 2025 #19
Ann Arbour Cirsium Feb 2025 #20
all i can say is wow. dawn5651 Feb 2025 #23
Who spells "Ann Arbour"? SouthBayDem Feb 2025 #24

bdamomma

(68,324 posts)
1. That is wonderful act of kindness and solidarity with the Canadian patrons
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 10:28 AM
Feb 2025

for paying for customers meals in a restaurant.

BComplex

(9,433 posts)
14. Hahaha! That's so funny! I want Canadian accent lessons! Sign me up!
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 12:26 PM
Feb 2025

Better yet, I would like to move there!

liberalla

(10,513 posts)
9. I love this news story and so appreciate what that couple did.... and
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 11:20 AM
Feb 2025

ESPECIALLY what they said:

"she hates what the United States is doing to us and she doesn't support it. And she's so happy we won the hockey game and it's a little token of appreciation for Canadians and how much she loves us and how much she loves supporting local."

I told one of my two ice hockey loving friends at work this last Friday the same thing... he gave me a weird look because I was cheering Canada on over the US. I told him we are the assholes right now because of how felon45 is treating Canada. He knows I have an affinity for Canada, and that my Dad was from there. I don't know why he was surprised.

Kudos to these fine folks for passing that message along in Windsor, Ontario!



mn9driver

(4,731 posts)
11. I miss the pre-911 days.
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 12:09 PM
Feb 2025

Crossing the border between Windsor and Detroit for lunch, or a night out, or just shopping was nothing. The border people would ask where we were born, why we were crossing and how long we were staying and that was it. 10 seconds, no documents needed.

I wish it was still that easy.

BComplex

(9,433 posts)
15. Me, too, Kali. As a senior in high school, we used to cross the Mexican border for lunch!
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 12:43 PM
Feb 2025
...Have some flautas and beer, listen to the mariachis, go back across the border just in time for English class.

sdfernando

(5,730 posts)
16. We used to cross all the time.
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 12:59 PM
Feb 2025

When I was a child, before kindergarten and a short stint during 4th grade we lived in El Paso. We would cross over to Juarez all the time, to eat, to get haircuts, to visit family....It was a simple thing.

Later, when I was in high school we lived in San Diego, not far from the boarder. I used to go there all they time, especially to get gas. (remember the gas shortage and you could only get gas on even or odd days depending on your license plate?) Again it was a simple thing, easy to cross.

Funny story, one time I went to get gas, and as I was coming back across the agent asked me where I was born. Now keep in mind that of all the times I crossed, no agent ever asked me that. They asked where I lived not where I was born. Well, I had no reason to lie to the agent, so I told the truth. I was born in Munich Germany. The agent promptly asked me for my green card. I don't have and never had a green card. I'm a naturalized citizen due to my dad being in the Army and was station in Dachau and my naturalization date is the date I was born. Seriously, this agent was not going to let me back in the country! I basically had to relate my life story and eventually the agent relented and let me through. From then on, if I was ever asked that question I responded that I was born in San Diego!

KT2000

(21,459 posts)
21. Not empty at all
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 08:56 PM
Feb 2025

Everyone in that restaurant will know that not all Americans stand behind this rude buffoon. Our town earns $64 million in tourist dollars from Canadians. A couple hundred Americans turned out to welcome them from the maiden voyage after maintenance. They were so pleased and one woman they interviewed choked up expressing herself. She was relieved that not all Americans were following trump's hate.
This is a time when small gestures mean a lot and our choices are magnified.

NJCher

(40,234 posts)
26. Well hot damn
Wed Feb 26, 2025, 08:31 AM
Feb 2025

What would it take?

The word of mouth is what will carry this gesture far and wide.

I am deeply appreciative that this couple put their money where their mouth is and let these diners know that we’re not in support of this mean-spirited freak.

Martin68

(25,851 posts)
29. No, I just think there would ,must be a better way to support Canada as a whole than to throw money around in random
Wed Feb 26, 2025, 12:50 PM
Feb 2025

restaurant. It just feeds into too many negative stereotypes of the Ugly American. Just talking to people would be a far more effective and personal way to support Canadians.

NoRethugFriends

(3,346 posts)
30. These people were in a situation to do something nice and they did it. Perfect is the enemy of good.
Wed Feb 26, 2025, 01:43 PM
Feb 2025

jayschool2013

(2,585 posts)
17. If the dictatorship takes hold
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 01:24 PM
Feb 2025

I'd be happy to spell it "Ann Arbour."

I'd also be cool with "Colourado," "Ouregon" and my home, "Baltimoure."

Aussie105

(7,032 posts)
19. I vaguely remember a Nostradamus quatrain that mentions 'Invaders from the North'.
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 07:26 PM
Feb 2025

Does that mean Canada will invade the US?

Bound to pick up a lot of local volunteers as they head south towards Mar-a-Lardo to arrest the chief troublemaker resident.

"Two revolutions made from the evil scythe
making a permutation of reign and centuries.
The mobile sign thus moves into its place:
At two of equal worth and inclination."

No, not that one. I will keep researching.

"The great shameless, audacious bawler,
He will be elected governor of the army:
The boldness of his contention,
The bridge broken, the city faint from fear"

Trump?

Cirsium

(2,547 posts)
20. Ann Arbour
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 08:42 PM
Feb 2025

Is that Al Arbour's daughter? He was from Sudbury, Ontario. He played for the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, and the NHL Detroit Red Wings, right across the river from Windsor.

SouthBayDem

(32,671 posts)
24. Who spells "Ann Arbour"?
Tue Feb 25, 2025, 11:31 PM
Feb 2025

I get the need for British Commonwealth countries to spell with “-ise” and “-ouri-“ but leave place names alone!

At least CBC edited it.

(Am a former resident of Ann Arbor.)

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Canada»Paying for every meal in ...