‘Let’s Not Forget Our Obligations’: Gander, NL, Commemorates 25th Anniversary of 9/11 and Helping Neighbours in Hour of Need

The small town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador, held a memorial for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States, with speeches from political leaders and dignitaries centred on honouring those whose lives were lost and on remembering Gander’s role in aiding thousands of stranded passengers in the wake of the tragedy.

Governor General Louise Arbour, Gander Mayor Percy Farwell, Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Tony Wakeham, American envoy to Canada Pete Hoekstra, and former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien were among those who delivered remarks during a commemorative event held at the town’s Steele Community Centre.

“Let’s not forget our obligations to each other and the power we each have to truly make a difference in a sometimes broken world,” Farwell told the audience.

In the immediate wake of the Sept. 11 attacks, residents of Gander hosted more than 6,600 individuals whose 38 flights were diverted after the closure of U.S. airspace, arranging food, medicine, lodging, and transportation and hosting some individuals for multiple days.

The hospitality shown by Gander’s approximately 9,000 residents has been highlighted as an example of cross-border unity between Canada and the United States, as well as a moment of solidarity and compassion between neighbours in the face of tragedy.

Governor General Arbour spoke about how the attacks affected Canadians.

“For most Canadians, large-scale political violence had seemed very distant from our daily lives. Sept. 11 shattered that sense of distance. On that day, terrorists attacks struck the country closest to ours, a country close not only geographically. A friend with whom we have forged an exceptional relationship over generations,” she said.

‘They Needed Help’

Diverted passengers hailing from 95 different nations, most predominantly from the United States, were all embraced and helped by the people of Gander, according to Wakeham.

“[They] came from different countries, they spoke different languages, they followed different faiths, they had different lives, different stories, different destinations,” he said.

“But none of that mattered. What mattered was that they were here, and they needed help. So people helped.”

For his part, Hoekstra thanked the community.

“When people in America hear the word Gander, our hearts soften, and we just quietly murmur another prayer,” the American envoy said.

“And once more, we say thank you. As a representative of the United States government, thank you to the people of Gander.”

In his remarks, Chrétien referenced Canada’s solidarity with the United States after the attacks, including taking part in the military mission in Afghanistan.

“Our closest friend was attacked. We said that was an attack on us too, and we fought back side by side,” the former leader said.

However, Chrétien appeared to reference current Canada–U.S. trade tensions when he said “never mistake our generosity for weakness.”

Speaking on the second day of a two-day Liberal cabinet retreat being held in Banff, Alta., Prime Minister Mark Carney also commemorated the 9/11 attacks.

“This dark moment also brought forth some of our best nature, firefighters climbing the stairs to rescue those in burning buildings, rescue workers working for weeks to bring closure,” Carney said.