Visit Buffalo is sending a message, loud and clear, to our Canadian neighbors, that they are always welcome here, whether it’s to attend a Bills game, grab a bite to eat, or simply take a walk along the waterfront.
To that end, Visit Buffalo’s cross-border campaign now features billboards in Southern Ontario and on the Canadian side of the Peace Bridge, with the message “O Canada, We’re Still Singing It, Love Buffalo.”
At a time where relations between the two countries are strained, these billboards serve as a reminder that this city is different in that we will never leave Canada behind.
Our love and appreciation of our Canadian neighbors was initially solidified on April 8, when a crowd of nearly 19,000 fans chimed together to finish the Canadian anthem at KeyBank Center, after an unfortunate mic outage. The result was a heartwarming gesture that was felt (and appreciated) far and wide. It was a reminder that we are, now and forever, close neighbors that support each other through thick and thin.
Recently, the Buffalo Bills made the decision to sing “O Canada” before each game, for the first time ever – similar to how the anthem has been sung prior to Sabres games. Building on Visit Buffalo’s May campaign, “O, Canada, We Meant Every Word. Love, Buffalo,” these new cross-border billboards are essentially a visual call to action.
“Thursday night gave us a special opportunity to honor a friendship that has been part of this community for generations,” said Patrick Kaler, President and CEO of Visit Buffalo. “Canadian fans are used to hearing ‘O, Canada’ before Sabres games, but hearing it sung for the first time at a Bills regular season game is a meaningful reminder of just how closely connected Buffalo and Southern Ontario are. These billboards carry that moment beyond the stadium and arena and send a simple message to our Canadian neighbors: Buffalo is still singing it, and you’ll always be welcome here.”
It’s more important than ever, to remember that our border crossings remain as open as our minds.
