U.S. blocks Canadian access to iconic Stanstead border-straddling library, local officials say

Benjamin Shingler · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 21, 2025 7:15 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

The U.S. authorities is closing the entree Canadians usage to the Stanstead, Que., library, an iconic gathering that straddles some borders, according to municipality and room officials.

The Haskell Free Library and Opera House, built successful 1904, has been declared a practice tract connected some sides of the borderline and has agelong been considered a awesome of harmony betwixt Canada and the U.S.

The borderline enactment virtually runs crossed the level of the building, but the entranceway is connected the American broadside successful Derby Line, Vt.

Until now, the room was considered a neutral location, allowing visitors to sojourn without having to spell done each the procedures of a mean border, with patrol officers ensuring that everyone goes backmost to wherever they came from.

But Sylvie Boudreau, the president of the library's committee of trustees, said entree from Canada without going done an authoritative customs crossing volition present beryllium closed.

"This is past successful the making; it had been unfastened for implicit 100 years," she said successful an interrogation with Radio-Canada.

U.S. officials person not commented connected the alteration oregon the reasons down it.

The municipality of Stanstead has called a quality league contiguous to "formally respond to the unilateral determination by the U.S. authorities to adjacent Canada's main entree to this unsocial practice building."

Stanstead said successful the merchandise the "closure compromises not lone the entree of Canadian visitors to an historical awesome of co-operation and harmony betwixt the 2 countries, but besides undermines the tone of cross-border collaboration that defines this emblematic site."

The mayor, section MP and room officials are each scheduled to attend. The connection besides says immoderate representatives from the U.S. are besides expected.

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