Hundreds of people clad in red and white and hoisting Canadian flags descended on Parliament Hill Sunday to voice their frustration with the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Sunday's "Elbows Up, Canada!" rally was held in the midst of Trump's on-again, off-again tariffs on Canadian goods and his talk of annexation — including his repeated description of Canada as the "51st state."

'Elbows up' rallying cry evokes memories of Mr. Hockey

Before Gordie Howe became Mr. Hockey, he was known as Mr. Elbows. Now, Canadians are borrowing Howe's signature move and turning it into a slogan against their increasingly bellicose neighbours to the south.

A hockey player checks another in the late 1970s.

Howe, 50 at the time this photo was taken, delivers one of his well-known elbows to the head of Quebec Nordiques forward Curt Brakenbury in 1978. An oft-repeated, but incorrect, explanation of a 'Gordie Howe hat-trick' is a fight, a goal and an assist. 

Famous elbows

Gordie Howe, 50 years old and playing for the New England Whalers at the time this photo was taken, delivers one of his infamous elbows to the head of Quebec Nordiques forward Curt Brackenbury in 1978. Canadians have adopted the slogan 'elbows up' in the face of punishing tariffs and repeated annexation threats.

Canadian businesses enjoying boost in sales thanks to tariff threats, annexation talk

Some entrepreneurs say customers are now buying Canadian products with pride as they rally around local businesses.

These businesses are getting a boost from the 'Made in Canada' movement

Man in red plaid shirt smiles next to Ottawa Valley Meats logo. 

Darius Campeau, owner of Ottawa Valley Meats, stands at the shop and storefront on March 3, 2025. 

Darius Campeau, Owner of Ottawa Valley Meats

Some Ottawa-area businesses are crediting anti-American sentiment with a boost in sales.

Trump's tariff see-saw dizzies Kanata's tech sector

Ottawa’s tech sector is caught in the whirlwind of U.S. President Donald Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs, with some companies weighing whether tariffs will force them to move operations south of the border.

Steve Edgett, CEO of Genomadix, holds the cube his company produces at their Kanata facility.

Steve Edgett

With the American president imposing tariffs and then announcing reprieves, businesses say the uncertainty makes it difficult to assess how to move forward. 

Donald Trump’s trade war upending business in Kanata tech sector 

Thrown together&nbsp;in just a few days, Sunday's rally was meant to be peaceful, non-partisan and family-friendly, organizers told Radio-Canada.

"Canada's a work in progress, like you can see on Parliament Hill," said one organizer, Samantha McBeth, referring to the 

"But that doesn't mean we're not still proud to be Canadian."

Here are some of the scenes from the weekend rally.

People participate in a rally in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to Canadian sovereignty, on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, on Sunday, March 9, 2025. 

Elbows Up Canada Rally 20250309

A crowd of people gather outside on a winter's day, with one person holding a sign with a man's face crossed out with an 'X'.

A participant at an 'Elbows Up' rally on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 9, 2025, holds a sign criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump and his repeated threats of tariffs.

elbows up rally parliament hill ottawa trump 

A woman stands outside during a rally, holding a flag and a protest sign.

A woman engages in some unambiguous wordplay with her sign criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump during a rally held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on March 9, 2025.

rally elbows up ottawa parliament hill donald trump protest

A man in an orange vest holds signs while standing next to several hockey sticks stacked against a pillar.

A volunteer keeps watch at a 'coat check' for hockey sticks during a rally on Parliament Hill on March 9, 2025. Many people brought their sticks with them to the rally against U.S. President Donald Trump's talk of annexation, but they weren't allowed on the hill.

elbows up rally parliament hill ottawa hockey sticks trump

A man in a red jacket and toque speaks into a microphone during a rally, with several people holding flags in the background.

Comedian Shaun Majumder speaks during a rally in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to Canadian sovereignty held on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Sunday, March 9, 2025. 

A woman holds a French-language sign outside on a winter day in front of a historic building.

Samantha McBeth was one of the volunteers who organized an 'Elbows Up' rally on Parliament HIll in Ottawa on March 9, 2025. The rally was held in response to threats of tariffs and annexation by U.S. President Donald Trump.

samantha mcbeth organizer elbows up rally ottawa parliament hill trump

A participant holds an 'Elbows up Canada' sign during a rally on Parliament Hill held Sunday over U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to Canadian sovereignty.

Protesters slam Trump at 'Elbows Up!' rally on Parliament Hill

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