Elbows up! Saskatchewan village in the heart of the Prairies lives up to its name
CBC
The sign at the village's entrance says "Elbow Welcomes You" and, indeed, Joan Soggie wants every Canadian to visit her hometown to throw some elbows.
On Friday, Soggie and small but patriotic contingent of Elbow locals held an "Elbows Up" rally to support and inspire the newfound national unity sweeping the country as it tangles with U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st state.
About 350 people live in the Village of Elbow, near the community's namesake bend in the South Saskatchewan River and about 135 kilometres south of Saskatoon.
"The situation right now in the world with the United States and with Trump, it feels like it's a time that we all have to really pull together and we need something like this to give us some symbols to use," Soggie said after the rally.
"I think everybody in Canada should come and have their picture taken here."
About 15 people — mostly decked in red-and-white winter gear and other Maple Leaf swag — braved the open prairie's cold wind to take photos of each other throwing elbows in front of the village's welcome sign.
Soggie says she was inspired to organize the event after her daughter told her about attending a large "Elbows Up, Canada!" rally in Ottawa.
The movement launched after Canadian actor Mike Myers after he mouthed the words "elbows up" and tapped his left elbow on while credits rolled on a recent episode of Saturday Night Live. The slogan is likely inspired by Saskatoon hockey legend Gordie Howe, nicknamed Mr. Elbows for his habit of punishing opponents with his sharp elbows.
Soggie, who has lived in Elbow for 61 years, fears tariffs and an extended trade war will hurt farmers and small businesses in Elbow and other nearby communities in the centre of province's grain belt.
"I don't think there's any sector that's not going to be touched," Soggie said. "It affects everybody. And besides that, we all have close associations with people in the United States. Many of us have family there and it's very worrisome."
Soggie made sure to bill the rally as a non-partisan, family-friendly event so it didn't exclude anyone. She says it's about more than politics.
"We thought Elbow, Saskatchewan is a perfect place to be the epicentre of Elbows Up," she said.
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The sign at the village's entrance says "Elbow Welcomes You" and, indeed, Joan Soggie wants every Canadian to visit her hometown to throw some elbows.
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