U.S. township surrounded by Canada: What it's like to live in the Northwest Angle

The Northwest Angle is a U.S. township surrounded on three sides by Canada. Residents have to cross an international border twice just to get groceries or go to the doctor. But many of them say they like it that way.
To read more: cbc.ca/1.4973625
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[@FrankieJamesNews]

So they have to cross the street to smoke a joint?

[@roughcollies1811]

There are dispensaries in mn

[@MsHojat]

@@roughcollies1811 Sure, but they can't get to any place in MN like that without entering Manitoba then crossing over to the USA. It's not a quick drive, and it involves a total of 4 border crossings, 1 of which being Canada customs and border security, another other being US customs and border security (the last 2 just being the remote outpost that can be an annoying delay to get past, but otherwise not a big deal)

[@orangeradishneo]

@@roughcollies1811 probably easiest for them to just buy it in Canada (there aren't any storefronts in Ontario yet, not sure about Manitoba) and just cross their self-reporting border crossing with no drug dogs or border security searching their car.

[@billbob8532]

So you get your gun taken if you cross the street

[@TransitAndTeslas]

bill bob Canada has guns.

[@colathebuilder3-652]

We have you surrounded. Succumb to the syrup.

[@Shivcel172]

Lol

[@BabaBest2000]

Colathebuilder3 - Nooooooooo...

[@Actionronnie]

We know how to make super duper snowball's that can take down an entire nation,or one little angle of it 😂

[@g00gleminus96]

Join us and we will give you free health care and access to donuts.

[@suzanne5971]

Colathebuilder3 - I am laughing so hard! 🤣😁

[@deadfr0g]

Shoutout to Point Roberts! It’s a tiny American town south of Vancouver, BC that is bordered on four sides by ocean, ocean, ocean, and... BC. Super neat little place to go see if you’re in the lower mainland with your passport and want a weird fun thing to do.

[@steveeddy6876]

I love Pt Robert's been there twice this Covidian 19 virus really screwed the residents there shame on Mr Truedough Brandon and Dr Gucci!

[@billjohnson5023]

I’m from saskatchewan and I’ve been there

[@CANControlGRAFFITI]

She feels safe surrounded in Canada. That’s cute.

[@joelhunter3325]

I think it's mainly because how partially secluded it is.

[@ulysses988]

I dont think it's that

[@fireshorts5789]

especially cute considering Winnipeg is the closest city.

[@djexpo6655]

Give us Alaska while you're at it too.

[@TheAstraeuss]

lol That will never ever happen. It's too resource rich to give up now. Not to mention the strategic location it provides as a military installation.

[@KaylaNoelle1]

Yeah actually, one of my best friend's is Alaskan and if she didn't need a study visa that would be great!

[@aryazj8478]

Chris Kyle US would lose

[@TheAstraeuss]

@@chris7417 Damn, you Americans are so aggressive. Chill out brah nobody is taking your precious.

[@stopowo3921]

Gucci Golden Dragons man Canada is soooo Scary!!!! Lmao not

[@3506Dodge]

The water to its south is also in the U.S. You can access it directly from the U.S. by water, or ice in the winter. It is possible to go to the angle without entering Canada.

[@rmf9567]

It absolutely is. I have taken my canoe to the angle many times.

[@franzfanz]

The main town is on the northern shore and the border is only a few hundred metres off shore. So, it's likely that that's why they were crossing into Ontario waters to fish. If you just want to go and catch some dinner, you're not going to head all the way to the southern shore.

[@spencerpasemko8376]

Curious to know who provides emergency services

[@sharmake]

Probably Canada.

[@LplusRatioplusNobodyCares]

Legally it would have to be the county they are in or the State of Minnesota. I’m surprised CBC didn’t think to ask

[@MajorHurricane]

@@LplusRatioplusNobodyCares Point Roberts, WA (a similar example, cut off from the rest of the US by canada) gets their emergency services from canada, not washington.

[@CT-5736-Bladez]

Apparently the US and Canada have an emergency service agreement where emergency services can cross the border in a emergency (like a fire, medical emergency etc) the first responders just need to sign paperwork when they are done saying they crossed the border. I could be wrong

[@nickhill8612]

I just saw a video about that place.

[@edisonsun21c]

Shaq with an ipad and a phone

[@lakorai2]

Its actually a Windows tablet. Its annoying when reporters refer to all tablets as "iPads"

[@TransitAndTeslas]

lakorai2 Actually it is an iPad. Look carefully at the video. It’s an iPad in a weathertight kiosk case.

[@TransitAndTeslas]

lakorai2 you can even download the app yourself in the App Store. It’s called ROAM

[@Meekerextreme]

@@TransitAndTeslas Does it matter I have just drove past those spots, so do most people

[@MC-oi2pb]

Shaq is the only defense a border needs. Let's see those Mexicans run by the diesel.

[@DippinSauc]

I like that attitude of the couple in the video. Fun couple.

[@waltking9141]

Well if you're going to be surrounded by a other country you can't go wrong with Canada the nicest people in the world especially are snowbirds that spend their winter down here in Florida!!!,,😀😀🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸

[@LEK-we2hh]

Never the people its the politicians. Ok they part of people )) Your enemy ((

[@randomboi8218]

Give the town to Canada

[@stopowo3921]

CreeperBot 793 no

[@retnavybrat]

Only if that's what the residents want.

[@retnavybrat]

@@sergiovillarreal386 That's why I said _if._

[@MsHojat]

I would tend to agree, but keep in mind that if that was done, that whole huge area of land-while almost completely unpopulated- would likely go to Canada as well. Or at least a huge chunk of it: enough to have both the road and town within the border, as well as to have it be a contiguous chunk rather than a weird narrow peninsula.

[@notsure6187]

I don't think it's a town

[@sharptoothtrex4486]

This is why the Northwest Angle must need bigger improvements over such issues including supermarkets, hospitals, factories and schools.

[@ifrahhhshazi6605]

I live in Minnesota and I never knew this town even exist.

[@drahunter213]

It’s in the corner of the middle of nowhere lol I’m from there and the population is like afew hundred maybe fewer now because the kids or young adults my age want to go to the city’s and such because having a life in the middle of nowhere isn’t fo everybody but if you like peace and quite and security then living in isolated place like that is great

[@guledmahad8755]

Me too 😂😂

[@emptyhad2571]

@@drahunter213 seems like a good spot to build a milita.

[@JH-lu9lx]

I am an American and both the Northwest Angle and Point Roberts fascinante me. I would really like to go and visit atleast one of them and see it for myself.

[@alexacdc1234]

I live near point Roberts, it’s super boring in reality, it’s just houses and a couple tiny mom and pop stores but definitely has lots of beautiful scenery. I’d say the only reason to go is solely to say you actually went to the boarder anomaly. BUT if you’re planning a vacation to Seattle it’s like a two hour drive away so you can easily go for the day if you have a car and a passport, plus you get to go to Canada for a little while as an extra treat.

[@MegaJustGeorge]

Now THIS looks like a place where I would just LOVE to live!

[@gsxrgoddess6]

Yeah when we Canadians surround people they feel safe... give in to the light, time to come home... hugs!

[@Sandlin22]

Seems inconvenient but they're clearly doing fine.

[@rapturekevin]

I wonder how well the ipad thing would work on the mexican border lol.

[@theworkethic]

rapturekevin love it!

[@lukecowan2891]

havent been to the angle personnally but a know a couple people who have, the ipad is to basicly facetime with a border agent at a larger checkpoint

[@oosasadventures4774]

it would be stolen

[@camward9293]

@@oosasadventures4774 Yeah, it wouldn't last more than a day or two before it was ripped off its mount.

[@dundonrl]

@@oosasadventures4774 Exactly what I was thinking.

[@jojo-fu4xh]

As a Canadian I am embarrassed by these comments. As usual.

[@v-zixbrexit8689]

Taxpayers pay for CBC, whether they want to or not. So CBC should allow comments on ALL videos, whether they want to or not.

[@felixhurteau2630]

That's pretty dumb

[@MsHojat]

V-Zix but not everyone on the internet is Canadian. In fact only a small percentage are. There's also no way to identify those who _are_ Canadian. Would you prefer that an identification system (like that of Korea or China) be used for any Canadian to legally access the internet?

[@leswhynin913]

What's awesome is that their accent is a hybrid of Minnesotan and Canadian.

[@Helfirehydratrans]

There is no such thing as a Minnesotan accent It’s literally just a Canadian accent It would be a lot easier if we just adopt Minnesota Into Canada Because the Americans are ignoring them, and basically doing nothing with them So why don’t they just sell the state of Minnesota to Canada?

[@dblank5235]

I didnt find either the husband or wife overly friendly, so no they obviously would not be Canadian! Lol

[@Pannacotta999]

Another similar place is called Point Roberts

[@coribourassa2468]

I know where that is I’ve been there I’m from Saskatchewan

[@gregpineda8660]

@@coribourassa2468 Why don't you and your immediate family members move,pack---up and relocate in our Canadian province of British of Columbia's West Coast or South Coast so you can visit the small community of Point Roberts,Washington---U.S.A. ( And the Home of the Brave) all the time,Cori Bourassa and besides our weather here in British Columbia is much,much and much warmer than our province of Saskatchewan during winter time and also the scenery is better and later on,You can retire here as well!!!

[@BobSmith-iu3hx]

According to Wikipedia, a " fisher " is a small carnivorous animal that is native to North America and is a member of the weasel family.

[@Packerm87]

What kind of law enforcement does this area have?

[@MightyJo2]

Probably volunteers or something

[@kospencer1]

Right to bear arms.

[@jimgritty7064]

An angry moose.

[@retnavybrat]

Not to mention who would they call for an ambulance, although as far out as that area is, someone having a heart attack would probably be dead before help could get there even if it was coming from Manitoba.

[@jimgritty7064]

@@retnavybrat rescue helicopter from US.

[@busterandloulou]

Wouldn’t it make more sense to grant the citizens of the Northwest angle and Point Roberts to be granted dual citizenship. This would grant them freedom of travel in both countries.

[@aaronlane8276]

Imagine needing to enter into a foreign country just to go somewhere in your own.

[@antikommunistischaktion]

That's.... not actually uncommon. In fact there's a very large island off the coast of Maine that's Canadian, but the only way to get in or out is via the US.

[@the7311]

“It’s safe”

[@MikeyJoJo6385]

Dr. O you are so edgy doc.

[@mr.kwamid-86_43]

famous last words lol

[@gregpineda8660]

The small American community of Point Roberts,Washington---U.S.A. ( And the Home of the Brave) who travel by land have to drive through our Canadian Province of British Columbia's territory for 15 to 20 minutes via Highway 99 South before they can reach one of the biggest U.S.A.---Canada border crossings called the Peace Arch border crossing before they can reach the Mainland U.S.A.

[@redDL89]

I recall that there is a place in Washington State that's also equally weird in term of US-Canada border delineation. Point Roberts, at the southern tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula.

[@everettduncan7543]

Yes! And don't forget Detroit - its residents often get Canadian candy

[@steveeddy6876]

Yes Pt Robert's is a KOOL place but the Covidian virus really screwed them up thanks to Mr Truedough Brandon and Dr Gucci!

[@Prairielander]

Saint Pierre and Miquelon are two islands off the coast of Newfoundland which belong to France. They could easily just be incorporated into Canada. Point Roberts is another area cut off due to some dots. It is funny how people get cut off from practicality due to some line drawn on a map. These areas should be given a referendum to see if they would like to join Canada.

[@iainderksen8193]

Good job reporting. Ian.

[@drahunter213]

Omg that’s my home lol that little frozen river is actually called “Pine Creek” I’m from NWA 33B it’s a reservation and we have been working together with the Americans for decades trading wild rice and fish Lol hard to believe news went there lol

[@MassEffectFan113]

Oh it's away from the city alright... you ain't lyin' sister...

[@craigcarter400]

2020 has entered the chat. They basically have to take a boat all the time now.

[@NewAgeDIY]

Ok nice bit of info. But do you know about Point Roberts? It’s is a pene-exclave of the United States on the southernmost tip of the Tsawwassen Peninsula, south of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The area, which had a population of 1,314 at the 2010 census, is reached by land by traveling 25 mi (40 km) through Canada. It is a census-designated place (CDP) in Whatcom County, Washington with a post office, and a ZIP Code of 98281.[2] Direct sea and air connections with the U.S. are available across Boundary Bay. Thank you Wikipedia

[@arcemediesmacdonald5926]

She says its safe to raise her family, that's because they are for the most part living in Canada. Where it is safe.

[@NitroBoarder17]

canada isnt safe

[@gildenstorf]

One minute she says she feels safe because it's so far from the city. A minute later she says it's the end of the road and crazy people like that. But yes, the Angle should probably be given over to Canada.

[@steveeddy6876]

Hmmm well the whole thing sounds like a Beaucractic Nightmare Boundaries are just superficial made to scare folks animals make Boundaries Too!

[@sup_monica3597]

They have a really nice house

[@ibeleaf]

guy says he hasnt had a haircut in 4 years but has perfectly trimmed hair

[@dosmundos3830]

he said 20 years ;)

[@nygnyg1]

"Threatened to succeed"

[@pwblackmore]

I think you mean secede

[@MrSky10101]

Simple people.

[@SamLopeZz]

Just join Canada already.. What an absurd oddity. Can't believe it wasn't corrected 100 years ago and in 2019 is still happening. Well I guess the residents are there for the isolationism anyways, so it works out better for them to keep it that way. Unless of course you don't let them take home Canadian fish 😏

[@hudsonsmith8880]

Well the people there obviously don't want to join Canada for obvious reasons. I mean you have higher taxes and your leader is a prick in Canada so why would they want to switch. Also they don't have a choice. America won't just give up territory or anything.

[@SamLopeZz]

@@hudsonsmith8880 right. They probably prefer to pay more for health insurance and tuition or struggle when emergencies happen than seeing a higher deduction on their paychecks and have to worry bout nothing, like most Americans. Nothing wrong with that, to each their own. And when it comes to nation's leader, probably shouldn't be throwing rocks from the glass house.

[@royals1231]

@@SamLopeZz The US would probably work out an agreement in the near future, but it would be very difficult. Maybe in 50 or so years we could see a push especially if US influence starts waning worldwide. But it's very unlikely right now, Americans are too guarded and do not like foreign countries mentioning territorial issues even with friendly (?) neighbors like Canada.

[@shanesheffield6346]

No it would the ruin the states iconic

[@Jay-vr9ir]

@@hudsonsmith8880 Plant the flag of true freedom , The Good Guys Flag ,The Canadian Flag.Canadians are The Good Guys of the world, The United States are The Bad Guys.

[@offgridwanabe]

Sounds a lot like Hyder Alaska

[@chrissie136]

What about Point Roberts, Washington? The southern most tip of Tsawwassen Peninsula, just south of Vancouver, BC., on the 49th parallel. People from Point Roberts must travel 25 miles/40 kilometres through Canada to get to the rest of Washington. That means their kids cross the border twice a day just to go to school. Population 1314 in 2010.

[@kospencer1]

christiane rousseau I’ve seem Children in Point Robert crossing the boarder to go back to the American side, for them It was as easy as waving hello to the CBP officer.

[@user-pv4is2mh2n]

I’ve been here once and they didn’t have no fancy ipad when I was there. I had to call from a pay phone.

[@drahunter213]

iPad came around 2014 or something before that we had to use the pay phone In a shack lol most of the folks there don’t even use it which is funny

[@jonny777bike]

I hope they are able to move together and be together finally.

[@elgenetiamzon1062]

Well...if you think about it, Alaska is more or less in the same situation, only it's bigger, therefore it's accessible by air and sea. But it's still technically cut off from the rest of the United States.

[@ikarley]

we don’t need a wall for Canada cause most Canadians come here legally 🥴🥴

[@TransCanadaPhil]

If Canada and the US just had a simple Schengen-style agreement (like mainland Europe) of an open border between the two countries there would be no issue here.

[@justayoutubeaccount371]

Canada doesn’t want that at all

[@mbatiste]

That is very sad

[@carryeveryday910]

@@justayoutubeaccount371Well yeah they can’t have people with rights coming into their dictatorship willy nilly lmao

[@antikommunistischaktion]

We had that before muslims played bumper planes.

[@thet3504]

You mention a boarder wall.. Its Canada.. There are no walls anywhere on the US boarder why? Canadians are not running away to the USA. What a dumb comment

[@MrTwins95]

Hey they've upgraded. Last video I saw about them they had to use a phone to call border patrol.

[@geoffwickens3871]

Hell - try living in Point Roberts, WA. To get to the rest of Washington state by road, they have to travel 30 minutes (about 40km) through Canada. Kids have to board a buss and take it to Blaine to attend school and they must all have their passports every single day. Right now .... the residents there are isolated because they cannot travel through Canada unless absolutely necessary.

[@martymahem236]

The US needs to build a bridge across the US portion of the lake up to the angle so those folks can get out without having to go through Canada.

[@Delta4ms]

Perfect for hermits.

[@There_is_a_duck_in_my_home]

I think we should keep it like it is, it’s fine.

[@CoLiNgErRoW]

Beautiful home

[@mayloo2137]

It's interesting that the couple sounds like a mix of Canadian and American accents, and the old man sounds just American.

[@omare7475]

does anyone actually scan their passport when they cross??

[@MsHojat]

If they don't, and go around the barrier they'll probably send either Canadian police, or possibly a US ranger or something (possibly the one that may be employed/stationed in Angle) You could just walk in where there isn't a gate nor cameras though, but that will be a really really long walk to get to Angle from the border.

[@lukecowan2891]

yes, there isint like border agents, but in a town that small nobody is getting in without someone asking if theive gone to the shack (where you do a video chat with a border agent)

[@michaelalexander3163]

I would love to live there actually

[@guesstime6445]

It’s Canada in a Nutshell. But it might be Canada one day

[@andrewschulzsd]

If anyone thinks the U.S. is going to let any territory join another country they're insane. The U.S. would more likely send in Federal troops to subdue the people in the Northwest Angle then let them leave.

[@steveeddy6876]

Yes good point most Governments want you to be Afraid of them!

[@kaeso101]

They should just join Canada and make things simple

[@SignsOfLifeLondon]

Love those two...thanks!

[@enforceOM]

The real question is how the town is policed? if a problem occurs who would they call? Minnesota state police have to cross into Canada first?

[@disoriented1]

perhaps they have a municipal police force..even if one officer. Let them hold a referendum and vote. They don't sound like they care about being either U.S. or Canadian...

[@warrenmacdonald1372]

interesting article, but I think you better brush up on your word pronunciation you pronounced angler as angalar, and secede as succeed. One thing the CBC does like is the correct pronunciation of words

[@maunster3414]

Alice Evonic, I don't know what kind of strange planet you're from, but you are not Canadian.

[@joemomma2145]

On that note you have no idea how to capitalize or use comas.

[@warrenmacdonald1372]

@@joemomma2145 touche

[@mcmc8496]

@@Mypromiselive So you're saying that Canadians pronounce 2 different words the same. That's some serious streamlining... They probably should try a civil war to learn and experience new words...

[@aerobicsmomof3]

@@joemomma2145 "commas"

[@jamesm7505]

Point Roberts Washington is a similar situation given to Canada in error..returned to the USA when the error was discovered.....so why was this territory given to USA in error not returned to Canads ??

[@maunster3414]

It wasn't an error, though. Some little battle happened over it.

[@disoriented1]

Perhaps..just a guess..and I'm from the U.S..that when the error was discovered, the U.K. still determined the 'foreign' policy of Canada. From Whitehall, to avoid conflict with the U.S., a few acres of land and a few hundred people?...really?..same from Washington, D.C....politicians are politicians!

[@bradleypollack5658]

How difficult is it to get Amazon?

[@roughcollies1811]

I love Canada and Minnesota

[@hobbylobby7967]

Loooks like it’s pointless to live there

[@martinsampson7381]

The U.S. can just build a ferry that connects that small area to the rest of the country. No more need to cross the border :)

[@steveeddy6876]

I've been there twice and I don't think there's enough people living there for a ferry service the Washington state Ferry system is already millions of dollars in the Hole at this time and lost many employees due to Covid!

[@michaela6156]

They threatened to “succeed”? “Angulars”?

[@Scrabbledat]

If you think this is weird look up saint pierre and Miquelon

[@Liemciemdk89]

Safe but has a bunch of crazy people.

[@michaelAlfonso20]

Excuse me, does anyone know how many inhabitants this town has in 2020?

[@jacksonmarley3093]

Wikipedia says 119 at the 2010 census, not sure about now.

[@crygun22]

I’m from Minnesota, idk why I said this but ya I’m from Minnesota 😂

[@koof_a_loof]

Me too!!

[@jamesl9371]

Who would want to live there? Oh I see they like it because it’s isolated from the rest of the USA 🇺🇸

[@edmontonoilers4096]

There was never gonna a 30ft border wall between the US and Canada anyway or was there ever any talk about it.

[@shiroshika1]

So close to Canada but you still have to pay like 10.000$ for an ambulance. Must suck!

[@jibblesq]

A headphone warning would be nice for that scraping at the beginning of the video

[@jennifert8224]

Thanks for showcasing a completely open portion of the border for anyone to just wander through. Cause that’s just what Canada needs.

[@d-rockanomaly9243]

lol what? Americans generally don't sneak into Canada, and that border is way more closely watched than you'd think.

[@johnhouston9764]

As if terrorists would go to the trouble of going there!

[@FerdinandCesarano]

The reporter of this piece should take note of the difference between "succeed" and "secede".

[@green_willowtree]

Give the town to Canada.

[@TheJakeman789]

You know what, they don’t have to live their

[@hybern8ta]

Not the only place like that. Point Roberts Wa.

[@jeffz7310]

It's usually the American surveyors who think they never make mistakes because they r American Surveyors and decided that part of Canada is America.

[@disoriented1]

I seriously doubt the U.S. surveyed the border alone; at the time, I am sure the United Kingdom did its own surveying and the two countries negotiated a deal. I'm sure there are Canadians, Brazilians, etc that believe they never make mistakes either.

[@DClean]

Angulars, are they like anglers but with sharper features?

[@marc8013]

It should be Canadian no lie about that

[@N2tech]

I'm glad video is digital now otherwise this would have been a waste of film.

[@troutjerky3489]

Are we just going to ignore the fact that Alaska is still apart of the US?

[@retnavybrat]

That's a slightly different situation, though. Yes, there's a chunk of Canada separating Alaska from the mainland US, but most people who live there don't have to cross the Canadian border everyday to do common things like get groceries or go to school.

[@CanadaMMA]

I always laugh when people say they like living in the country vs the city because its "safer" in the country. Crime rates would beg to differ

[@ahull25]

That border patrol hut looks cold AF.

[@jamescurrent8794]

If the border were open, you could check in at many of the resorts at the Angle also (Young's Bay also has an old school check in phone). I know Angle Outpost has one in the lodge, but, we didn't know about it when we last drove there in 2019. We checked in Carl's Corner, but the pad was broken, so we used the old phone. I did sign up for the CBP ROAM app, but, thanks to the closure, never have gotten the chance to use it. We've gone to the Angle by boat in 2020, and 21, so didn't have to deal with the border issues.

[@vette1]

The currency exchange gotta be hella nice

[@NebularImpact95]

This place makes Barrow Alaska look like Las Vegas XD

[@myswagisserious]

@0:30 who says “supper” anymore? That alone proves how far they are from everything else is the world

[@ivorholtskog5506]

I say supper, but then I am close to 70.

[@zipzap4706]

I say “supper” every day around 6:00 p.m.. Mind you, I eat at home, not drive-thrus.

[@RedneckMechanic89]

I say supper I’m 21 years old

[@exxtramiles8115]

So their boarder guard is an IPad? Am I getting this right?

[@OhNoNotFrank]

Perhaps Denmark wants to buy it...

[@KayDejaVu]

Silly. These people can move. This area isn't even very populated. Why stay?

[@MoviesEater]

Imagine crossing the border and suddenly not having a decent health care.

[@foresakentonone4148]

Recluses might be a better term...or Isolationists...I am assuming a ferry boat ride...supplying...escaping town...course I know not of the lake...feasibility...but that would be an option...all comes from the South across the water???