Tod Maffin says he was at home one night when he had an idea.

Amid all the talk of tariff threats and annexation, he posted a video to TikTok asking Americans to visit his hometown of Nanaimo, B.C., as a sign of support for their neighbours to the north.

"I thought maybe half a dozen or so would show up and my wife and I would take them out for dinner or lunch or whatever," Maffin said.

Maffin is a digital marketer, business journalist, and a former radio host and producer, including at CBC.