TORONTO 鈥� Canadians engrossed in the drama of the U.S. presidential election expect to gather in bars and living rooms to watch the votes roll in Tuesday, but many say the usual fanfare of watch parties will be muted by anxiety over the especially combative race.
Dustin Herberman of Vaughan, Ont., says he鈥檒l follow the results with his parents, who lean more to the right of the political spectrum than he does. He鈥檚 steeling himself for a night of delicate chit-chat meant to avoid squabbles over polarizing candidates Kamala Harris for the Democrats and Republican candidate Donald Trump.
鈥淧retty much it's just kind of agreed upon by everyone 鈥� you don't push too many buttons during the vote,鈥� he says of the house rules.
The 35-year-old Herberman plans to monitor CNN with occasional flips to Canadian networks but expects there will be 鈥渁 little bit of a fight for control of the TV鈥� with his dad: 鈥淚t's probably going to be flipped at least part of the time to Fox News.鈥�
For poll watchers who prefer a bigger gathering, there are events planned across the country, many of them organized by provincial political associations, non-partisan policy organizations and expat groups.
Meanwhile, pubs, bars and eateries eyeing a chance to spur traffic on a typically slower Tuesday will turn at least some of their screens from sports to the news channels 鈥� especially in the border city of Windsor, Ont., where one city councillor hoped 鈥渢he talk of the town鈥� will drive business.
鈥淭his year is more captivating than any year that I could possibly remember since the 30 years I've lived in Windsor, no question about it,鈥� Renaldo Agostino says of the U.S. race.
Agostino says several bars, eateries and a comedy club were among the businesses planning events in downtown Windsor, where U.S. news is inescapable due to the saturation of Detroit radio, TV and cross-border traffic.
Over in Toronto, VideoCabaret鈥檚 鈥淰ox Pop '24: The Elephant Rolls Over, An American Election Watch Party鈥� will double as a fundraiser for the theatre鈥檚 upcoming 50th anniversary. The 鈥渆vening of satire, music and scintillating banter,鈥� promises performances, panel discussion, special videos, and a themed buffet and bar, say organizers Janet Burke and Anand Rajaram.
Most of all, it will offer a safe space to process what will likely be an inflammatory outcome, no matter the vote result, says Burke.
鈥淵ou look around and folks were saying, 鈥業 don't know if I'm going to watch,鈥� 鈥業'm going to hide under my bed,鈥� 鈥業'm going to just wake up the next day and see what happens,鈥欌�� says Burke, founding member of the theatre.
鈥淪o we've invited people to come and wring their hands together. Let's all just join hands and see what happens.鈥�
And when the results come in, 鈥渨e'll slink off or we'll jump up in great relief,鈥� she says.
Like Agostino, political marketing expert Dave Bussiere senses "a heightened interest" and broader curiosity among Canadians than what was seen in the previous two U.S. elections.
Bussiere, an associate professor at the University of Windsor, runs a political marketing course focused on predicting the fates of Harris and Trump and says he'll be watching the results roll in with the neutrality of "a scientist."
But he can easily see how emotions can get the best of some observers.
"The support for each of the two parties has become more polar. So I could picture people, if they're doing a watch party, to want to be amongst people who agree. People seem to not have as much patience, or don't have much patience with people who support the other party."
Bussiere says he'll tune into TV news coverage with his wife and son, but also plans to connect virtually with his brother in Montreal, two daughters in Toronto and his students.
Canadian prime time coverage Tuesday is set to include live reports on CBC from chief correspondent Adrienne Arsenault and senior Washington correspondent Paul Hunter; a panel of experts on CTV News Channel led throughout the evening by chief political correspondent Vassy Kapelos, while 鈥淐TV National News with Omar Sachedina鈥� will be on location in Washington, D.C.
Global News鈥� Dawna Friesen and correspondents are set to host a national live stream available on GlobalNews.ca, YouTube, the Global TV App, Pluto TV and Prime.
Rajaram says his event makes no pretence of leaning towards Harris and away from harsh rhetoric that has especially targeted marginalized groups.
"We're saying in the invites, cheekily: Don't be alone on election night. But it goes far beyond that. It's: 鈥榊ou don't need to be alone,鈥� period, says Rajaram, associate artistic director of VideoCabaret.
鈥淭here's a community of people here who are as invested in the world and that worldview as you are, and we want to be a hub for people to feel safe and feel supported."
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 2, 2024.
Cassandra Szklarski, The Canadian Press
