9/11'S ‘SILVER LINING'

HOW THE TRAGEDY GALVANISED A CANADIAN TOWN – AND INSPIRED AN UNLIKELY MUSICAL

- Michael Crooks

As the world struggled to grapple with the terror and grief of 9/11, the people of one Canadian town were giving love and hope. After the US government shut down its airspace in the immediate wake of the attacks, Canadian airports began accepting US-bound international flights. One of those airports was in the tiny town of Gander, located in the north-eastern part of the island of Newfoundland. The airport welcomed 38 flights, and Gander and its surrounds took in more than 6500 passengers and crew for one week.

That day, 21-year-old Canadian Janice Goudie had just begun her first job as a reporter at a local newspaper in Gander when she was told to get to the airport.