As the craft beer scene flourished on the West Coast, Andrew Harris and co-owner Gillian Nixon kicked off their venture, the Portland craft beer bar, on Vancouver's Main Street. At that time, Oregon was celebrated as a beacon of craft brewing. However, fast forward 15 years, and we find ourselves in the midst of a tariff war with our neighbors to the south, where anything reminiscent of America is becoming a potential risk for local businesses.

Harris expressed concern over dipping sales, stating, "Business is down, and I’m not sure how much of that is directly a result of this backlash anymore." Nevertheless, positive feedback from across Canada has bolstered their spirits, with supporters encouraging them to maintain their bar’s name and reminding them that there are multiple Portlands, including one tucked away in Ontario.

Instead of bowing to pressure and changing their name, Harris and Nixon have taken a stand to fortify their Canadian identity. They’ve removed U.S. craft beers from their offerings and shifted toward a hyper-local strategy. Harris shared, “In terms of our bourbon, we’re selling through what we have. It’s challenging to replace overnight because of costs, but we’re transitioning to Japanese and European whiskeys, and our Canadian whisky selection is expanding rapidly.”

Despite the challenges, there’s a silver lining. Harris notes a surge in customer inquiries about Canadian products, something he believes has been a long time coming. He hopes this renewed interest will encourage more interprovincial trade, especially as a business owner and manufacturer himself. "Where I really feel that Canada needs to wake up is interprovincial tariffs," he asserted. "Why do I have a tariff to sell to Ontario when I don’t have one to Washington State? I hope we can break down these tariff barriers and move toward a single-economy system."

Similarly, George Siu, who co-founded the Memphis Blues BBQ on Vancouver's Broadway Street 25 years ago, echoes this sentiment. He proudly states that their local chain has always sourced its meat directly from Canadian producers.

In a world where culinary confidence is shaking, these Vancouver restaurateurs are determined to stay true to their roots. They are not just fighting for their businesses but advocating for a stronger and more united local economy. The call for a more consumption-focused approach to Canadian goods is louder than ever, and this resilience might just inspire others to go Canadian in spirit as well as in sourcing.