By Mike Weland
The third flagpole north of the Boundary County Museum once again bears a brand-new flag waving, a flag that’s flown for decades, and Bonners Ferry has a new special occasion celebrated 365 days a year commemorating the community’s friendship with our Canadian neighbors.
After the passage of House Bill 96, an Idaho Freedom Caucus bill driven by Heather Scott in the House and Ben Toews in the Senate aimed at forcing the removal of an LGBTQ flag flying at city hall in Boise, it went into effect April 3 as IC-67-2303A, as poorly conceived as it is poorly written.
Within days, Bonners Ferry received a call from the Idaho Attorney General’s office ordering him to take down the Canadian flag that has flown near the foot of the Kootenai River Bridge for as long as anyone can remember.
At tonight’s city council meeting, Mayor Alonzo said that as the new law provided for no penalties he initially refused, but the deputy AG threatened a lawsuit for writ of mandamus, a court order commanding a public official or entity to perform a specific action that they are legally required to do, or to refrain from doing something they are legally forbidden from doing, for which costs and penalties could be steep.
The Canadian flag came down, but Alonzo did not give in. Conferring with the council and city attorney Andrakay Pluid, he came to tonight’s meeting prepared, and with the council in full accord.
With crews from Spokane television stations KXLY 4 and KREM 2 on hand, four members of the audience spoke in favor of keeping the Canadian flag flying beside ours, including Gray Henderson, who drew applause when he closed simply, “I’d like to see the flag back on the flagpole.”
Councilman Ron Smith was given the privilege of introducing a draft proposal of an ordinance by Andrakay Pluid taking advantage of a clause in the bill allowing foreign flags to be flown on special occasions.
Smith said it was a fine piece of writing, saying just what he felt, and he read it into the record:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF BONNERS FERRY, IDAHO, DESIGNATING SPECIAL OCCASIONS TO COMMEMMORATE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR CANADIAN NEIGHBORS.
WHERAS, the city of Bonners Ferry is the closest incorporated municipality in the State of Idaho to the Canadian border, as well as the first stop on the International Selkirk Loop, and
WHEREAS, the city of Bonners Ferry recognizes the positive impact and contributions made through Canadian tourism on our community, and
WHEREAS, the City Council seeks to acknowledge, recognize, appreciate, and celebrate our neighborly relationship with Canada, and
WHEREAS, cities in Idaho are bestowed with broad powers of self governance, including the ability to recognize local holidays or days of celebration.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BONNERS FERRY, IDAHO, THE FOLLOWING:
Section 1: The city of Bonners Ferry hereby designates that three-hundred and sixty-five days per year are a special occasion in the city of Bonners Ferry commemorating our city’s neighborly relationship with Canada.
Section 2: The city of Bonners Ferry will celebrate these special occasions by displaying the Canadian flag alongside the flags of the United States and the State of Idaho, flown in accordance with United States’ flag code.
Resolution No. 2025-006 council vote: Brion Poston, aye. Val Thompson, aye. Adam Arthur, aye. Ron Smith, aye.
At meeting’s end, Mayor Alonzo produced a new Canadian flag and he led a procession over to the empty flagpole. With the assistance of Bonners Ferry Police Chief Willie Cowell and audience members Gerald Higgs and Gray Henderson, both U.S. military veterans, he hoisted the flag of our friends and neighbors 35 miles to our north once again to its rightful place over Bonners Ferry.
