It’s Party Time In Canada

Just North Of Detroit Late 1990’s

I was off of work for the night, and the evening sky made its presence along the Metro Detroit skyline. I was just 19 years old, and I was ready to explore the world around me. I was wild and young and ready for whatever this life brought to me.

I was in my friend’s car with a few buddies of mine. We cranked up the stereo as loud as it would go, and we drove about half an hour south to Downtown Detroit, and there it was. The Detroit/Windsor Tunnel. The nightlife awaited us on the other side of The Detroit River. Excitement and anticipation awaited us.

Neither of us was 21 years old; therefore, we could not experience the nightlife in our hometown; however, on the other side of The Detroit River was Canada! Windsor, Ontario, to be exact. The drinking age in Canada was 19 years old. We just had to drive a mile drive into the tunnel, and then another world awaited us.

We drove up to the toll booth, and then off we drove inside the tunnel. Passing through the tunnels and there we went inside the two-lane road underneath the Detroit River. The windows are rolled down as we traveled through the tunnel. Then we pass the mark where the American and Canadian flags are painted on the wall. We just crossed the line.

Further and further, we traveled on the road, then the elevation rose, and we could see the end of the tunnel. We can see Windsor! We made it! We are here! Now, I just got to get through Canadian Customs.

Wow! The line is long. It looks like mostly kids about our age from Michigan getting into Canada. It doesn’t look too bad. So far, they are letting anybody through. Okay, now it’s our turn.

We made it through customs without any issues.

The gates were open; here we are In Windsor, Ontario. Traffic is horrendous, and all the cars have Michigan License Plates. All of us want to indulge in the vibrant nightlife that the city has to offer. Finally, we found a parking structure in this city. We parked the car, and my friends and I exited the vehicle.

We walked upon the streets of Windsor like we own the town. We were just Michigan kids about to have fun and indulge in this playground across the border. It was time to party in Canada. Staring outward to the other side of the river was The Detroit Skyline. We were so close, yet so far away. We were in another country, another world, as we entered the nightclub.

The music was loud and pumping. The crowds were packed tight, the party lights shining throughout, and the drinks were flowing. This was our little place for 19-year-olds and 20-year-olds from Michigan to hang out. It became what I would consider my little paradise on the other side of the river. Windsor would become my hangout throughout most of the late 90’s; as it was at least twice a month, I would make it a point to hit the nightclub world.

Not everything is meant to last forever. By the time the year 2000 had hit, I was already 22 years old. I had a girlfriend at the time, and then a year later, the 9–11 attacks happened, making it a lot more challenging to cross the border between the two countries.

I had moved well past that point as I became a father and took on more responsibilities. Every party has to end at some point.

In June of this year, I took my son on a boat ride along the Detroit River. On the other side, I could see the Windsor skyline and the Canadian Flag. I thought to myself, oh, how times have changed. I stared into the streets where I used to party and live that lifestyle. I was so close to it but so far away.