BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Visit Buffalo Niagara, which promotes tourism in the Buffalo Niagara region, has announced the launch of its "Buffalo Loves Canada" campaign.
The campaign celebrates the region’s strong cross-border ties with Canada and will debut on Canada Day, July 1.
"As part of the celebration, a new billboard featuring the 'Buffalo Loves Canada' logo will appear along the QEW near Toronto, welcoming Canadian travelers and reminding them of Buffalo’s enduring connection to its northern neighbors," Visit Buffalo Niagara said in a release.
WATCH: 'Experience the Buffalo that you know': Visit Buffalo Niagara launches 'Buffalo Loves Canada' campaign
Downtown Buffalo landmarks will also be illuminated in red on July 1 to mark Canada’s national holiday.
VBN said it is encouraging local businesses and residents to join in the celebration online by sharing the “Buffalo Loves Canada” graphic on social media on Canada Day alongside a message of support. You can find more information here.
Visit Niagara President and CEO Patrick Kaler said Buffalo is feeling the void of our Canadian friends.
"Typically, we welcome about 9.5 million visitors to Buffalo on an annual basis, anywhere from 35% to 40% of those visitors do come from the GTA (Greater Toronto Area)," Kaler said. "It just depends on the overall exchange rate and what's going on. We're still in the city of good neighbors, and we want you to come back and experience the Buffalo that you know."
WATCH: You can watch Kaler's full conversation with Michael Wooten on Voices below.
While Visit Buffalo Niagara launches its campaign with a welcoming approach, the Friends of Freedom Park organization is taking a more assertive stance to address declining border traffic.
"You look at all the bridge crossings and the traffic isn't what it was, and it's understandable, I suppose, from the way that that has changed habits, and hopefully it's not irreparable, but it's one of those things that has kind of shifted the travel as we move," said Michael Powers, organizer of Friends of Freedom Park.
Powers and his group are organizing two rallies this Saturday to help revive the centuries-old relationship between Western New York and Canada.
"We want to make sure that this continues, that relationship doesn't die just because there's somebody trying to be a bully at one end of the government," Powers said. "Hopefully, we can see past all that and find our way back."
The "Elbows Up" rallies will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. at Freedom Park in Buffalo and at 8 p.m. at Terrapin Point in Niagara Falls.
