Good news from the Great North

Our neighbors to the north are back and local business owners are smiling.

Ever since the Canadian dollar reached a 30-year high against the U.S. dollar last November, Flathead Valley businesses have seen a dramatic upswing in visitor traffic from across the border. They're buying new cars, condos and all sorts of other things. Take a run through parking lots at the mall and box stores in Kalispell and you'll see Canadians filling up their vehicles with new purchases.

It gives the local economy a boost at a time when other parts of the country are seeing a weakening economy. Montana began benefiting from a stronger Canadian dollar well before it hit a high of $1.10 against the U.S. dollar three months ago. Though the loonie's value has dipped a little since then, it looks as if Canadians intend to keep coming. A Grouse Mountain Lodge spokesman in Whitefish said bookings for spring and summer golf groups have been brisk.

The local tourism industry clearly is a beneficiary of increased Canadian spending. Whitefish Mountain Resort reports a marked upswing in Canadian skiers; that means hotels, bars and restaurants are busy.

Five years ago, when it took $1.60 in Canadian currency to equal one U.S. dollar, we were sorely missing our northerly neighbors.

Now, there's so much hubbub about Canadian visitation that the Kalispell Chamber of Commerce will devote its March 25 luncheon to Canadian trade issues. U.S. Rep. Denny Rehberg, R-Mont., is expected to kick off a yearlong Canadian trade initiative at the March luncheon.

No one has the financial crystal ball to tell us how long this influx of Canadian customers will last, but for now let's roll out the welcome mat and show them a good time here in the Flathead.

Jesse Culp deserves applause for spearheading a two-year theater production called "The Domestic Violence Project." She'll spend the next year interviewing community members about domestic violence to gain perspective and develop material for a stage presentation.

So-called "devising theater" is a reality-based form of drama rooted in research and community conversation on a social or political topic. Montana has one of the highest rates of domestic violence in the nation, but Culp says she's found people often are defensive about the subject and refuse to believe it can happen to them or their loved ones.

The project will raise awareness about domestic violence and Culp needs help to make it happen. If you can provide ideas, songs, poetry, artwork or stories that can be used as inspiration for the production, contact Culp at the Violence Free Crisis Line office at 752-4735.