Thousands of Torontonians gathered at Nathan Phillips Square on Saturday afternoon, March 22nd,to demonstrate Canada’s spirit of unity, opposing tariffs and the threats of annexation from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The event was part of the “Elbows Up, Canada! Ready to Fight, Canada!” campaign — a grassroots movement calling for solidarity and the protection of national sovereignty. The chant “Elbows Up!” echoed throughout the square as speakers and prominent guests took the stage.
This slogan originated from hockey legend Gordie Howe and became a national rallying cry after comedian Mike Myers wore a “Canada is not for sale” t-shirt and mentioned the phrase on Saturday Night Live.
The event came just days after the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on Canadian goods, most of which has been postponed until April 2. It was also the second “Elbows Up” protest of the month, following a march with over 1,000 participants at Parliament Hill.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, along with other notable figures such as entrepreneur Arlene Dickinson, comedian Shaun Majumder, and musician Jim Cuddy, participated in the event. Cuddy even performed his new song, We Used to be the Best of Friends, reflecting the trade tensions between the two countries.
Shaun Majumder, who lived in California for 20 years, shared that he returned to Canada at the right time. He also emphasized that the “Elbows Up” movement is spreading across the country, with several other cities being invited to host similar events.
Peter Wall, co-founder of the movement, stated that the campaign aims to send a message of peace, stressing that “Canada deserves to be protected.” He also emphasized that the event was apolitical, with no participation from federal or provincial officials.
However, with the federal election scheduled for April 28, many attendees expressed concern about the country’s political situation.
