Anti-American sentiment reaches southern Alberta with incidents in Calgary and High River

Anti-American sentiment appears to be building in southern Alberta, with High River RCMP investigating graffiti and potentially vandalism.

The Farinellis' High River, Alta., home was targeted early Tuesday morning by a vandal.

Both their vehicles sustained damage, including broken side mirrors and a ripped-off door handle.

A chunk of concrete was also thrown through a front window of their home.

“It’s a shame. Like that. Thou shalt love thy neighbour,” said Garrett Farinelli.

“I understand the tension and drama, but we’ve been here for four years, flown the flag for two years.”

Farinelli is American, and he and his wife Kristine met in Mexico before settling in her hometown.

They believe the U.S. flag flying outside their home made them a target.

Farinelli is also a Trump supporter, having voted for him in the last U.S. election.

“To be attacked over—what I truly think (is) it’s a political attack,” he said.

“Like, how many cars are on the street? And it’s only two vehicles that live at our house. And a piece of concrete through the window—it’s pretty gnarly.”

Kristine said she had previously experienced some harassment related to the flag.

“A couple weeks ago, I had a guy pull over and scream some really nasty things to me when I was brushing snow off my car,” she said.

“So, from that point on, I kind of said to Garrett, I was really worried about the flags being up and then after this happening, pretty upset.”

Kristine says she was shocked at the damage caused to her property.

“I love this town, and I’m really disappointed,” she said.

“The flag represents the people of the country, not the political leaders of the country. And me and my husband have some differing opinions on that. The flag represents the people, and I think people need to remember that.”

High River RCMP say they’re investigating a mischief incident at a home displaying the U.S. flag, amid rising trade tensions between Canada and the United States.

Officers were called to a residence in the town at 6:36 a.m. Tuesday after reports of property damage.

Staff Sgt. Greg Wiebe says the incident is believed to have occurred around 12:30 a.m. and that it’s too early to determine the motivation behind the vandalism.

“Obviously, we aren’t able to speculate at this time what the motivation is, not having been able to locate or speak to a suspect,” he said.

“We have to prove that the (suspect) was motivated by hate or bias, and basically the way we can do that is if we can identify a suspect and speak to that suspect, or we have information coming to us from other sources that are identifying an individual that committed this offence.”

Wiebe says the RCMP are aware of the current political climate.

“We’re alive to the fact that there’s certainly some tension when it comes to U.S.-Canadian relations currently,” he said.

No similar incidents have been reported to police.

RCMP say they’ve identified a person of interest described as a male wearing a black jacket and grey pants.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the High River RCMP or Crime Stoppers.

Sarah Halprin, a travel agent with The Travel Agent Next Door, said she has seen a 25 per cent drop in business, with fewer Canadians seeking out U.S. destinations.

“Nobody wants to go with the states,” said Halprin.

“There are a few people with maybe unlimited resources that it doesn’t really bother, but I believe that it’s not even just because of the dollars that people do not want to support.”

She hopes airlines like WestJet will respond to the trend by reducing flights to the U.S. and increasing options for destinations like Mexico.

In Calgary, graffiti was spray-painted on the Centre Street Bridge targeting Americans.

It read, “There is no enemy like a friend betrayed.”