Fifty years after the Vietnam War, many Americans who opposed the conflict and relocated to Canada to avoid the draft still grapple with their decisions and the current state of global politics. Despite Jimmy Carter's 1977 amnesty offer, many draft resisters chose to remain in Canada, having settled into new lives and often facing estranged relationships back in the U.S. Individuals like Richard Lemm and Rex Weyler fled due to political and moral convictions, contributing to Canadian society in fields like environmentalism and literature. Others, like Don Gayton and Bob Hogue, made personal sacrifices, leaving behind family and careers to escape military service. The backdrop of recent political tensions between the U.S. and Canada has reignited complex feelings about national identity and belonging among these expatriates.

The Vietnam War led many Americans to seek refuge in Canada, avoiding the military draft due to moral or political reasons, and despite a presidential pardon, many remained due to the personal costs of returning, such as strained family ties and social stigmas.

Richard Lemm, a conscientious objector denied status in the U.S., relocated to Canada in 1968 driven by political and moral motivations, and now views the U.S. as a deeply polarized society needing more dialogue.

Rex Weyler, a peace activist, fled to Canada in 1972 after FBI pressure, eventually founding Greenpeace, and now advises against fleeing political disagreements, advocating for confronting issues directly.

Don Gayton's experiences in the Peace Corps clashed with his draft call, leading him and his family to move to British Columbia in 1974, causing a long-lasting rift with his father who was angered by his son's evasion of military duty.

Susan Mulkey moved to British Columbia at 20, seeking an environmentally conscious life away from the war, and now engages in community forestry and political activism, while maintaining her American connections.

John Bergenske, motivated by Canada's welcoming stance and his love for the landscape, moved in 1970, focusing on environmental work, highlighting the importance of loving the place one chooses as a new home.

Bob Hogue, after experiencing the grim realities of war at an army base, went AWOL to protect his family, settling in northern British Columbia where he worked various jobs, and despite his new life, he retains a connection to the U.S. and concerns about global issues.