In late March 2026, the Town of Gander announced that this September the community would come together to mark "a quarter century of connection, compassion, and remembrance," with a commemorative service set for September 11 at 2 p.m. at the Steele Community Centre. The notice also noted that for those planning to travel to Gander, the musical "Come From Away" would have performances around the anniversary. Twenty-five years after the day the world came to a stop, the town that became famous for opening its doors was getting ready to open them all over again.
The service at the Steele Community Centre is the centrepiece of the anniversary observances. Guided by three themes — Remember, Honour, Commemorate — it will feature music, personal reflections, tributes, and ceremonial elements, bringing together survivors, family members, "Plane People," volunteers, first responders, military representatives, dignitaries, and members of the public. The service will be televised live, and members of the general public must be seated in their assigned seats by 1:35 p.m. Admission is free, but tickets must be reserved in advance.
The town expects large crowds for the ceremony, a quarter century after the airport town's population suddenly swelled by thousands of stranded plane passengers. Mayor Percy Farwell said, "September 11, 2001 is a day that continues to be felt around the world. Here in Gander and across NL, people responded with care and compassion when it was needed most." Special guests are expected, though details have yet to be announced.
On the night before the service, September 10, the town will hold an event called "Untold Stories" at Gander International Airport, featuring first-hand accounts from the "plane people," local residents, and others.
Operation Yellow Ribbon was the Canadian response to the grounding of flights after the September 11 attacks. When U.S. airspace was shut down, thirty-eight airliners landed at Gander's airport, carrying nearly seven thousand passengers and crew. There was no contingency plan. As former mayor Claude Elliott recalled, "We have an emergency plan, every municipality has it. But there's nothing in that plan to tell you what to do with 7,000 people if they decide to drop in for four or five days."
Elliott declared a state of emergency. Schools and church halls became shelters, and the local hockey arena's ice surface was used as a refrigerator for donated food. Neighbours opened their doors to complete strangers, offering beds and showers. The stranded travellers were dubbed the "plane people," and the town's residents formed lasting bonds with them over the days they spent together.
The story of Gander's kindness was captured in the musical "Come From Away," which premiered on Broadway in 2017 and won a Tony Award. Its title refers to the Newfoundland expression for visitors. A professional production is staged at the Joseph R. Smallwood Arts and Culture Centre in Gander as part of the anniversary observances. Even former mayor Claude Elliott initially doubted the story could become a musical, wondering how one could make a musical out of sandwiches, soup, blankets, and pillows.
The aviation museum in Gander has an exhibit highlighting those days after 9/11, featuring thank-you notes written by grateful passengers, and metal beams from the World Trade Center were sent to Gander.
Pete Hoekstra, the U.S. ambassador to Canada, is scheduled to attend the anniversary commemoration, a visit that has stirred anger in some quarters amid strained Canada-U.S. relations. The Town of Gander has issued a statement urging calm, emphasizing that the anniversary is about remembrance beyond politics.
As the anniversary approaches, the town is preparing to welcome returning plane people and other visitors. On September 11, the town will gather at the Steele Community Centre to remember those lost and to reflect on the lasting bonds of friendship, kindness, and hope that emerged from one of history's darkest days.