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Elbows Up!: Canadian Voices of Resilience and Resistance
A blazing collection of responses to the U.S.'s shocking annexation threats and the swell of Canadian national unity that followed, from a remarkable array of Canada's sharpest and most influential minds.
2025. Donald Trump is president. And he is insisting that Canada is for sale. It feels disorienting, even existential, to watch a trade war escalate and to hear an American president vow to make Canada “the 51st state.” Amid this disorientation, there is an urgent how do we meet the moment?
This is not the first time we have had an identity crisis resulting in a swell of Canadian pride, but it is the first time many Canadians have experienced the direct threat of American imperialism knocking so loudly on our country’s door. The fact that treaties can be broken, that resources can be stolen, and that the consequences of land theft include loss of culture, ritual, and identity is not new to the Indigenous and refugee peoples living in this country. But to many other Canadians, this kind of threat is new. As a result, there appears to be a new sense of a “we” emerging. People are angry and standing together with renewed shared purpose. This is a pivotal moment in history, and we need to take stock of how we got here, to learn from our past and walk tenaciously together into an uncertain future.
Inspired by the 1968 collection The New Candid Canadian Opinions of the U.S., which was edited by Al Purdy and curated amidst the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, Elbows Up! is the book for our generation’s own moment of crisis, featuring the words of leading cultural figures speaking candidly on America, on Canada, and on the malleable contours of a national narrative still taking hold.
2025. Donald Trump is president. And he is insisting that Canada is for sale. It feels disorienting, even existential, to watch a trade war escalate and to hear an American president vow to make Canada “the 51st state.” Amid this disorientation, there is an urgent how do we meet the moment?
This is not the first time we have had an identity crisis resulting in a swell of Canadian pride, but it is the first time many Canadians have experienced the direct threat of American imperialism knocking so loudly on our country’s door. The fact that treaties can be broken, that resources can be stolen, and that the consequences of land theft include loss of culture, ritual, and identity is not new to the Indigenous and refugee peoples living in this country. But to many other Canadians, this kind of threat is new. As a result, there appears to be a new sense of a “we” emerging. People are angry and standing together with renewed shared purpose. This is a pivotal moment in history, and we need to take stock of how we got here, to learn from our past and walk tenaciously together into an uncertain future.
Inspired by the 1968 collection The New Candid Canadian Opinions of the U.S., which was edited by Al Purdy and curated amidst the civil rights movement and the Vietnam War, Elbows Up! is the book for our generation’s own moment of crisis, featuring the words of leading cultural figures speaking candidly on America, on Canada, and on the malleable contours of a national narrative still taking hold.
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Published October 14, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 13, 2026
This collection of essays, mostly written in response to Donald Trump's aggressive comments about annexing Canada, is mixed in effort and result. The most passionate and insistent writing is done by Canadians whose family immigrated from troubled countries. Contributors such as Atom Egoyan and Catherine Hernandez and Jen Sookfong Lee all have political trauma as part of their family history and are quick to warn the rest of us about what could happen. If I had read these essays prior to Trump taking over Venezuela, I would have thought they were somewhat hysterical. Now, they sound like the voice of steady reason. Trump's actions have given these works immediacy.
There were a few contributions from Indigenous writers, all of whom took the attitude of "Now you know what it feels like." Obviously, there is a parallel between the Indigenous experience and the existing threat, but the economic value of what would be lost is significantly different. Canada now is worth trillions of dollars; Canada then was unrealized potential.
Farley Mowat's essay (from a 1968 collection of essays by Canadians about the U.S.A.) made me miss him and wish he was here today to speak out. His blunt and funny style would make him a leader in today's world.
There were a few left-leaning, group think essays that were not as impressive - writers who used the forum to go over the same old political claims. I think of the unreadable contribution of Canisia Lubrin, as an example.
Overall, worth reading, but it did not provide me with the answer to my question of what can an ordinary person do to register their despair, their anger, their Canadian pride. Ken Dryden suggested that is why Canadians are so vocal at international hockey matches, and that may be true, but is not sufficient to the cause. My search for a personal expression of concern goes on.
There were a few contributions from Indigenous writers, all of whom took the attitude of "Now you know what it feels like." Obviously, there is a parallel between the Indigenous experience and the existing threat, but the economic value of what would be lost is significantly different. Canada now is worth trillions of dollars; Canada then was unrealized potential.
Farley Mowat's essay (from a 1968 collection of essays by Canadians about the U.S.A.) made me miss him and wish he was here today to speak out. His blunt and funny style would make him a leader in today's world.
There were a few left-leaning, group think essays that were not as impressive - writers who used the forum to go over the same old political claims. I think of the unreadable contribution of Canisia Lubrin, as an example.
Overall, worth reading, but it did not provide me with the answer to my question of what can an ordinary person do to register their despair, their anger, their Canadian pride. Ken Dryden suggested that is why Canadians are so vocal at international hockey matches, and that may be true, but is not sufficient to the cause. My search for a personal expression of concern goes on.
November 22, 2025
An incredible collection of essay by Canadian authors, journalists, creatives and many other incredible Canadians that make up Canada special.
As a Canadian, my identity has long since been defined by “I’m Canadian because I’m not American” which is a hallow foundation to stand on.
Canada is made of a complex, brutal, colonial histories that continue to affect indigenous communities. Although we have a long way to, I have hope in the future generations.
It’s made up of immigrants starting from leaving behind their homes to start anew. It’s French, English, Irish, Arab, Asian, African, Latin, Indigenous…it’s all that— and so much more.
We’re special in that way, because we have the freedom to be whatever we want there is nothing that doesn’t count as Canadian. Canada is what Canadians say it is. Is it perfect? No, not even close but it’s home, and it’s a reflection of true diversity as it should be.
Canada will never be American (yuck!) and it’s not for sale. Don’t let our “sorry’s” and “hey bud’s!” fool you, are elbows are the sharpest they’ve ever been. And we’re proud of this evolving country that is striving to be better (not perfect).
So proud to be Canadian. Wouldn’t want it any other way.
Elbows up! 🇨🇦🍁
As a Canadian, my identity has long since been defined by “I’m Canadian because I’m not American” which is a hallow foundation to stand on.
Canada is made of a complex, brutal, colonial histories that continue to affect indigenous communities. Although we have a long way to, I have hope in the future generations.
It’s made up of immigrants starting from leaving behind their homes to start anew. It’s French, English, Irish, Arab, Asian, African, Latin, Indigenous…it’s all that— and so much more.
We’re special in that way, because we have the freedom to be whatever we want there is nothing that doesn’t count as Canadian. Canada is what Canadians say it is. Is it perfect? No, not even close but it’s home, and it’s a reflection of true diversity as it should be.
Canada will never be American (yuck!) and it’s not for sale. Don’t let our “sorry’s” and “hey bud’s!” fool you, are elbows are the sharpest they’ve ever been. And we’re proud of this evolving country that is striving to be better (not perfect).
So proud to be Canadian. Wouldn’t want it any other way.
Elbows up! 🇨🇦🍁
October 30, 2025
A thought-provoking collection of essays from celebrated Canadian musicians, writers, athletes, journalists, actors and politicians. These pieces cross gender, sexuality and ethnicity and force Canadians to confront some uncomfortable truths about our privileges while also arguing that we still need to do better for fear of turning into another America (a fate we narrowly escaped this past election but could still very much happen). Great on audio read by many of the authors themselves, this is a timely and important read as the fate of democracy and the rights we've enjoyed grow increasingly threatened.
October 22, 2025
I loved this book so much! A diverse collection that captures the heart of a people.
December 12, 2025
some of these were nuanced and interesting and compelling. many were not
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews