Soo Shawarma Burgers & Grill House has cooked up a buzzworthy promotion to catch the attention of its local and international customers.
The restaurant is offering free poutine to Americans if the United States were to become Canada’s 11th province.
Carnivore Poutine, which would be the prize in this scenario, is priced from $12 to $17 depending on the protein options.
Vikas Chaudhary, CEO of Soo Shawarma, says the humorous promotion has been well-received by community members.
“We are getting so much appreciation from our customers and our city members,” he says. “My inbox is full.”
As of March 4, the U.S. is imposing 25-per-cent tariffs on most Canadian exports and 10 per cent on energy exports, marking the beginning of a trade war.
Chaudhary says people are enjoying the lighthearted jab at U.S. President Donald Trump.
“We have a lot of diversity, different people,” he says. “We should unite.”
As a border city, Sault Ste. Marie is uniquely positioned to foster cross-border relations – and Chaudhary sees this promotion as an opportunity to bring people together amid rising tensions.
The city shares deep ties with its American counterpart, including families and friendships that span generations across the St. Mary’s River.
“We should be united and do something good for our community,” he says.