"It reveals no trace": Ruth Kaplan spent five years documenting a border crossing that no longer exists

In her extensive five-year documentation project, Ruth Kaplan captured images of Roxham Road, a border crossing that no longer exists. This now-closed crossing was a de facto route for asylum seekers to enter Canada. Kaplan, a Toronto-based documentary photographer, first visited the site in December 2018 and made multiple trips before it closed in 2023.

The resulting book, Crossing, features her photographs and accompanying texts. Unlike traditional border crossing images, Kaplan's work showcases luggage attached to cars, women with suitcases on snowy roads, and handwritten Creole notes. The site was primarily used due to the Safe Third Country Agreement, which prevented people arriving from the US from claiming asylum at official crossings.

However, those who had already entered Canada could still pursue their refugee claims. Kaplan herself has a personal connection to the subject matter, as her mother survived a concentration camp and her parents fled Eastern Europe after the Holocaust. The images capture the changes in the setting throughout the year, from lush summer wildflowers to snowy winter landscapes. Despite its closure, the site reveals no trace of its former existence today.