STANSTEAD, Quebec — In a town straddling the Canada-U.S. border, construction is underway for a new entrance to the Haskell Free Library. This change comes after the U.S. government ended a long-standing arrangement that allowed Canadians to enter the library without passing through customs. For over a century, residents of Stanstead could walk through a door into Derby Line, Vermont, symbolizing the close ties between the two nations.

The decision by the Trump administration to cancel this arrangement was made to address concerns over "illicit cross-border activities." Sylvie Boudreau, president of the library's board of trustees, expressed the sentiment felt by many in the community. "It’s the end of something," she said, noting the anger it has caused on both sides of the border.

The library has seen restricted access before, particularly after the September 11 attacks and during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this recent action marks a definitive end to a unique cross-border relationship that many in Stanstead cherished. The town, known for its Victorian architecture, is about a 90-minute drive from Montreal.

Residents are feeling the impact of this change. Jonas Horsky, a Derby Line resident who often visits the library for its bilingual resources, shared his feelings of nostalgia. "We’ve always been united, we’ve always visited each other, but now we carry our passports with us. It wasn’t like this before," said the 41-year-old Franco-American.

Erica Masotto, who works at Stanstead College, described the new entrance as "strange," noting the symbolic implications of having to enter through what was once an emergency exit. She questioned the sudden shift in trust between the two countries, asking, "Why this sudden mistrust?"

This change in library access is part of a broader deterioration in U.S.-Canada relations. Tensions have escalated due to Trump's comments about potentially annexing Canada and his imposition of tariffs, which have led to job losses in various sectors. Recently, he announced the termination of trade talks over an anti-tariff advertisement from Ontario.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has indicated that the Canada-U.S. relationship has been irrevocably altered, stating that it would "never be the same again." This shift has also affected travel patterns, with a national statistics agency reporting a significant decline in Canadians visiting the United States.

Marc Samson, a retiree in Stanstead, confirmed this trend, saying, "We don’t go to the United States anymore," despite the proximity of the two towns. However, he remains hopeful that a change in U.S. leadership could restore the previous state of affairs. "I imagine that if the government changes on the other side of the border, things will go back to normal," he said.

Boudreau reflected on the changes, stating that while the new library access signifies a physical end to an era of closeness, the bonds of friendship and community remain strong. "From the perspective of people, of friendship, of unity, that has been strengthened by what happened," she concluded.