Saskatchewan

Elbows up! Saskatchewan village in the heart of the Prairies lives up to its name

The Village of Elbow is named for the nearby bend in the South Saskatchewan River, but the name means something else in the midst of a Canada-U.S. trade war.

Small crowd in Elbow, Sask., braves sharp winds to defy U.S. President Donald Trump

A group of people with elbows raised stand in front of an outdoor sign that says "Elbow Welcomes You".
Demonstrators braved a brisk prairie wind to take part in the Elbows Up rally in Elbow, Sask., on Friday. (Jeremy Warren/CBC News)

The sign at the village's entrance says "Elbow Welcomes You" and, indeed, Joan Soggie wants every Canadian to visit her hometown to throw some elbows.

On Friday, Soggie and small but patriotic contingent of Elbow locals held an "Elbows Up" rally to support and inspire the newfound national unity sweeping the country as it tangles with U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs and threats to make Canada the 51st state.

About 350 people live in the Village of Elbow, near the community's namesake bend in the South Saskatchewan River and about 135 kilometres south of Saskatoon.

A man wears a hat that says "Canada is not for sale" while a Canadian flag flutters behind him.
Event organizer Joan Soggie, right, made sure to bill the rally as a non-partisan, family-friendly event. (Jeremy Warren/CBC News)

"The situation right now in the world with the United States and with Trump, it feels like it's a time that we all have to really pull together and we need something like this to give us some symbols to use," Soggie said after the rally.

"I think everybody in Canada should come and have their picture taken here."

WATCH | A small but patriotic "Elbows Up" rally in the village of Elbow:

Of course Elbow, Sask., would hold an 'Elbows up' rally

10 hours ago
Duration 0:59
A Saskatchewan village in the heart of the Prairies lived up to its name on Friday with a small but patriotic 'Elbows up' rally. The movement, inspired by Saskatchewan-born hockey legend Gordie Howe, has gained momentum in the midst of a Canada-U.S. trade war.

About 15 people — mostly decked in red-and-white winter gear and other Maple Leaf swag — braved the open prairie's cold wind to take photos of each other throwing elbows in front of the village's welcome sign.

Soggie says she was inspired to organize the event after her daughter told her about attending a large "Elbows Up, Canada!" rally in Ottawa.

The movement launched after Canadian actor Mike Myers after he mouthed the words "elbows up" and tapped his left elbow on while credits rolled on a recent episode of Saturday Night Live. The slogan is likely inspired by Saskatoon hockey legend Gordie Howe, nicknamed Mr. Elbows for his habit of punishing opponents with his sharp elbows.

WATCH | 'Elbows Up' becomes a rally cry against Trump:

#TheMoment 'Elbows Up' became a rally cry against Trump

6 days ago
Duration 1:23
In response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, Canadian actor Mike Myers may have started a movement by pointing to his elbow and mouthing the words 'elbows up' during appearances on Saturday Night Live. The phrase has caught on and has become a rallying cry in the trade war.

Soggie, who has lived in Elbow for 61 years, fears tariffs and an extended trade war will hurt farmers and small businesses in Elbow and other nearby communities in the centre of province's grain belt.

"I don't think there's any sector that's not going to be touched," Soggie said. "It affects everybody. And besides that, we all have close associations with people in the United States. Many of us have family there and it's very worrisome."

Two women in parkas hold up a Canadian flag.
Blue fingers on a cold, windy day at the Elbows Up rally on Friday. (Jeremy Warren/CBC News)

Soggie made sure to bill the rally as a non-partisan, family-friendly event so it didn't exclude anyone. She says it's about more than politics.

"We thought Elbow, Saskatchewan is a perfect place to be the epicentre of Elbows Up," she said.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jeremy Warren is a reporter in Saskatoon. You can reach him at jeremy.warren@cbc.ca.