September 11, 2026
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I am honoured to be here with you to commemorate a day that has left an indelible mark on our collective memory.
Twenty-five years ago, on September 11, 2001, a day of unimaginable tragedy in the United States became a defining moment in the lives of people here in Gander—and in communities across Canada.
On that day, we struggled to comprehend the horror unfolding in New York, at the Pentagon and in the skies over Pennsylvania.
Our hearts went out to the victims and their loved ones.
And we sensed that something fundamental had changed in our understanding of the world.
We have yet to fully recover the sense of security that comes from living in a free and democratic society.
Trust gave way to hypervigilance. Distrust was easily manipulated and, over time, led to the stigmatization of Muslim communities around the world.
For most Canadians, large-scale political violence had seemed distant from our daily lives.
September 11 shattered that sense of distance.
On that day, the terrorist 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.
Canadians and Americans fought alongside one another in two world wars and stood together in defense of freedom and democracy throughout the Cold War.
We have helped one another through natural disasters and difficult times, time and again.
And entire communities, from Windsor to Detroit, Vancouver to Seattle, have grown side by side, always in solidarity in the face of adversity.
That long-standing bond was evident on September 11, as Canadians responded immediately.
Within hours, more than 33 000 travellers aboard more than 200 diverted flights found refuge on Canadian soil.
Here in Gander, but also in Halifax, Vancouver, Whitehorse and many other communities across the country.
Entire communities mobilized in a spontaneous outpouring of generosity and solidarity.
Schools and community centres were transformed into welcoming spaces. Volunteers prepared meals, donated clothing, set up cots and helped thousands of people communicate with their loved ones.
Ordinary citizens opened their doors to strangers who, for a few days, became their guests and, in many cases, remain their friends to this day.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local police services and first responders across Canada responded with courage, professionalism and compassion. They helped keep affected individuals safe and supported the communities that welcomed them.
Canadian firefighters, police officers and the Canadian Red Cross travelled to New York City to support their American counterparts facing an unprecedented disaster.
We also remember the members of the Canadian Armed Forces who answered the call of duty, alongside their American partners.
And that support was not short-lived.
In the months and years that followed, the Canadian spirit of solidarity and sacrifice endured, leading our armed forces to serve alongside our allies and partners in Afghanistan.
Their service came at an enormous cost, claiming the lives of 158 Canadian Armed Forces members.
Today, we honour the memory of the nearly 3 000 people who were killed at the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93, and we stand with their families and loved ones.
Among them were Americans, Canadians and nationals from more than 90 countries.
We honour those who succumbed to injuries and illnesses linked to the attacks, including the courageous first responders who selflessly rushed to help victims.
All these lives were abruptly cut short, but their memory lives on in the hearts of their loved ones and in the collective consciousness of our nations.
We also honour those who survived the attacks and whose lives have been profoundly marked by that day.
At the heart of a dark day, Gander shone a powerful light of humanity.
Twenty-five years later, that light has not faded.
It lives on in the memory of those who were welcomed here, in the bonds that were forged across borders, and in the enduring friendship between the people of our two countries.
As we honour those we lost, may we also carry forward the values that guided this community in a moment of crisis: compassion, generosity and solidarity.
That is the spirit we honour today.
Thank you to the people of Gander for the honour you have bestowed upon us.
Thank you all.