'Never mistake our generosity for weakness,' warns Chrétien, as Gander welcomes U.S. Ambassador at 9/11 ceremony

Advertisement 1 This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Breadcrumb Trail Links HomeAtlantic CanadaNewfoundland & LabradorNewsCanada 'Never mistake our generosity for weakness,' warns Chrétien, as Gander welcomes U.S. Ambassador at 9/11 ceremony “We know who we are, and we are proud," said former Canadian prime minister Jean Chretien Author of the article: By Nicholas Mercer Published Sep 11, 2026 Last updated 29 minutes ago 2 minute read U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra speaks at the 25th anniversary of 9/11 in Gander on Sept. 11. PHOTO BY NICHOLAS MERCER/THE TELEGRAM Article content In the week leading up to the 9/11 Commemoration Service in Gander on Sept. 11, there was plenty of resistance to U.S. Ambassador Pete Hoekstra’s appearance at the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that shut down one nation and spurred another, including Gander, into action. Article content Hoekstra has been vocal about Canada becoming the 51st state and that we should capitulate in the recent trade war between the two countries. Many expected a reaction that echoed the country’s disdain for those sentiments. Article content Article content Article content Still, if Gander held any ill will, they didn’t show it. Instead, they gave him a welcoming round of polite applause as he set about thanking them for their work 25 years ago. Article content “You did it all. You stood up. You did what was needed to be done,” said Hoekstra. “That is the legacy. That is the message to young people.” Article content Not a political thing Article content The noise around Hoekstra’s invitation to the 9/11 ceremony got louder as the event drew closer, with some talk online about people showing their disapproval of the decision, and even more people chided Gander on social media about the invitation. Article content Article content In a statement earlier this week, the town said its story on 9/11 isn’t political, and any invitation is not to be considered an endorsement of any political stance. Article content Read More ‘We helped as many as we could’: On 25th anniversary, those who lived 9/11 shared their stories in Gander ‘It’s never far from my mind’: St. John’s airport manager recalls 9/11 Advertisement 1 Article content In times like these, the town said, the focus should be on remembering what happened 25 years ago and not on the current geopolitical world. Article content “There are times when we will disagree. There are also times…