Reflecting on Refuge: Vietnam War Draft Dodgers' Enduring Legacy in Canada

As the Vietnam War marks its 50th anniversary, Americans who sought refuge in Canada to avoid the draft share their experiences and ongoing worries about U.S. politics and twin national identities.

Fifty years after the Vietnam War ended, many Americans who found refuge in Canada continue to reflect on the choices that shaped their lives. In 1977, President Jimmy Carter extended a presidential pardon, inviting thousands of Vietnam War opponents back to a healing nation. However, for those who crossed the border to evade conscription, returning was not an appealing option. The war, which claimed roughly 60,000 American lives, forever altered relationships and initiated a complex legacy that still resonates today.

Canada's open arms provided shelter for draft resisters, often labeled as "cowards" by some. Their departure entailed difficult personal sacrifices, as many left behind fractured familial ties and deep anguish over leaving their home country. Despite a powerful offer from the U.S. government, many chose to remain in Canada, viewing the nation not just as a sanctuary, but as a new chapter of life.

With the current political climate in the U.S. causing rising anxiety, particularly around President Trump's economic policies and threats to Canada’s sovereignty, sentiments for these displaced Americans have resurfaced. A reporter traveled across Canada to meet a dozen of these former draft dodgers, now in their 70s and 80s, to learn how they perceive their past decisions and their feelings about both the U.S. and Canada.

Through personal interviews, the soon-to-be elderly exiles articulated their complex feelings towards their decision to leave America. Whether their experiences are seen as acts of courage or signs of cowardice, what's clear is that the trauma of war, national identity, and political tensions continue to shape their lives. As they reflect on the past, they express not just nostalgia, but also a stark awareness of the challenges that lie ahead in both countries. The ongoing conversation about identity, belonging, and politics illustrates that even decades later, the Vietnam War's legacy continues to impact those who sought refuge from its burdens.