New data reveals a significant drop in southbound traffic into the U.S. through the Kenneth G. Ward crossing from Aldergrove to Lynden over the Family Day and President’s Day long weekend, a traditionally busy time for cross-border travel.
Statistics from cascadegatewaydata.com show that the peak number of vehicles in line to cross into Lynden on Monday, February 17, reached 142, down from 204 the previous year—a 31% decrease.
At 8 a.m. on the same day, 29 cars were queued up at the crossing, compared to 52 during the same time in 2024, marking a 44% drop.
The decrease in cross-border travel is attributed to Canadian travelers cutting back on trips to the U.S., particularly for shopping or tourism, following President Donald Trump’s tariff threat against Canada.
Other B.C. border locations also saw a decline, with the Peace Arch and Sumas crossings reporting a 30% drop in traffic.
Guy Occhiogrosso, president/CEO of the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce, observed a noticeable reduction in Canadian license plates, suggesting fewer Canadian shoppers. According to a 2018-2019 study, large retailers in Bellingham typically see 25-30% of their customers come from Canada.
