Home > LOCAL NEWS > Lights across the border: Vigil held in St. Stephen to show support for U.S. neighbours

Lights across the border: Vigil held in St. Stephen to show support for U.S. neighbours

On a chilly Sunday evening in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, about a dozen people gathered at the edge of the town’s wharf, holding flashlights and candles that cut through the darkness of dusk in late January. Facing the St. Croix River, they raised their lights in unison toward the skyline of Calais, Maine. 

Within moments, beams of light began to flicker back from the American side, where a small group of people stood at the edge of the river in Calais, Maine, holding their flashlights in response. Tears filled St. Stephen resident Tracey Matheson’s eyes as she witnessed this simple but profound exchange, a bridge of light stretching across two countries.

“I don’t have words for it. That’s the whole point,” Matheson said, her voice heavy with emotion. “It’s to show that we’re here, that we support you.” 

Matheson, an active member of Charlotte County Pride, organized the vigil on short notice, reaching out through social media in less than 24 hours.

Motivated by her deep commitment to inclusivity, she felt compelled to act in response to new policies in the United States targeting marginalized communities, particularly the transgender community—policies that restrict gender-affirming care, define gender strictly by biological sex, and revoke military protections for transgender individuals.

“People are scared, and we have to do something,” Matheson explained. “It’s just a river, so we have to think of each other. The trans community is already feeling it. Who’s next? Immigrants are struggling over there too. Once this kind of discrimination becomes accepted, we all know what could happen. It’s a real fear.”

During the vigil, lights shown back from across the river in Calais, ME. (Vicki Hogarth/The Courier)

The vigil resonated with St. Andrews resident Todd Ross, a fellow member of Charlotte County Pride as well as a Canadian Navy veteran.

“When I see what’s happening in the U.S. with executive orders, rights being stripped away, it hits close to home,” Ross said, reflecting on his own experience.

“It’s just a river, so we have to think of each other. The trans community is already feeling it. Who’s next? Immigrants are struggling over there too. Once this kind of discrimination becomes accepted, we all know what could happen. It’s a real fear.”

“I was in the Canadian Navy at a time when I couldn’t be openly gay. I was kicked out for it. So when I see the same things happening to 2SLGBTQI+ people in the U.S., when I see the rollback of rights for transgender military members, it brings back painful memories. We fought for the rights of people who face discrimination. That’s why it’s important to show up, to show that we care and we stand with them.”

After seeing the glow of lights from across the river shining back, Ross couldn’t help but reflect on the enduring connection between St. Stephen and Calais.

The two communities share everything from a joint International Festival that sends a parade across the border,  to emergency assistance from first responders in times of need.

“It was amazing to see the lights coming back. It wasn’t something I expected, but it speaks to the deep connection between these communities,” he said. “We’ve got family and friends on both sides. We’re constantly traveling back and forth. Seeing that reflection of support from the U.S. side was powerful. It shows that even though there are divisions in Washington, the community here remains strong.”

Like Charlotte County, New Brunswick, Washington County, Maine, is a microcosm of political diversity. In the 2024 U.S. election, 58 per cent of voters in Calais supported Donald Trump, while in neighbouring Eastport, 58 per cent voted for Kamala Harris.

“I don’t have words for it. That’s the whole point,” Matheson said, her voice heavy with emotion. “It’s to show that we’re here, that we support you.” (Vicki Hogarth/The Courier)

Yet in these close-knit communities, where neighbours are more than just acquaintances, there’s a remarkable ability to find common ground and maintain friendships across political divides—and even international borders. For Ross, moments of solidarity, like this vigil, where people hold up their phones as flashlights instead of hiding behind their screens, serve as a reminder of our shared humanity. 

“Border communities can show the rest of the U.S. and Canada what it means to stay connected, despite political differences,” Ross said. “We’ve always had that closeness, and we continue to have it, regardless of the policies and governments.”

In an era where algorithms often seem designed to divide, Ross believes small communities have the unique ability to light the way forward, bringing people together in meaningful and unifying ways.

“It’s important for us to be involved,” Ross said. “When I think about the harms caused by both Canadian and U.S. governments—especially when we look at the history of the lavender scare—I feel a responsibility to stay vigilant. We can’t allow these things to happen again. We have to protect those most vulnerable. We may disagree on many things, and social media might drive us apart, but when we meet face-to-face, in small communities like this, we have the chance to truly understand each other. That’s how we stay strong. That’s how we move forward.”

Author

  • Vicki Hogarth is the News Director at CHCO-TV and a national award-winning journalist. Her work has been featured in Reader's Digest, The Guardian, Flare, The Globe and Mail, enRoute Magazine, and Vice, as well as in programming for the W Network. A former magazine editor in Toronto and Montreal, she holds both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in English Literature from McGill University where she was on the Dean's List. Since returning to her hometown of Saint Andrews, Vicki has been dedicated to making local news accessible, recognizing its vital role in strengthening and sustaining democracy.

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