“We stand with our American friends today on the 21st anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks that changed the world forever,” Stefanson said. “Today is a time to remember the 3,000 lives lost and to remember the brave first responders and military officers that risked their lives on that day and the years to come. It is a time to strengthen our resolve to defend our democracy and our way of life. We have time to reflect on our special relationship between Canada and the United States that has endured over 150 years.”
Stefanson remembered how in the immediate hours following the terrorist attacks, many flights were diverted to Winnipeg and other cities in Canada. Governments and community organizations helped these passengers when they landed and ordinary citizens opened their homes to the travellers. The premier mentioned the 9/11 memorial at the Peace Garden and the attraction’s recent 90th anniversary. She closed with a mention of the late queen’s words after the 2005 London attacks, saying those who perpetrate violence against innocents must know they will not change our way of life.
Chapman read a statement from North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. He said the tragedy of the attacks will always be in our hearts, as we remember the shock and sorrow of losing so many to such unspeakable acts, and the bravery of those who tried their best to save lives.
“That unimaginable tragedy had a profound and personal impact on Americans across our nation, including North Dakota and on our Canadian neighbours and friends,” the statement read.
There were four North Dakotans killed in the attacks, and Burgum remembered them and the military members who fought terrorism in the years to come.
Remarks from Brandon-Souris MP Larry Maguire were also read at the ceremony. Maguire said the Peace Garden, and the 9/11 memorial, were a quiet place where we could come and contemplate the tragedy of 21 years ago. We have learned that life is precious and can be cut short at any time. We can never take peace for granted as we work to end hatred around the world.
US Consul in Winnipeg Brian Koontz said they would always remember the solidarity they felt between Canadians and Americans on that day and the years that followed.
“Canada stood by the United States on September 11 in an unprecedented way,” Koontz remembered. “Canadians welcomed stranded aircraft and passengers as skies were cleared that day. You mourned with us, you stood shoulder to shoulder with us to protect our shared democratic values and way of life. The United States government and people are forever grateful.”
He added President Biden said the US has no greater ally than Canada. The threat of terrorism remains, and it continues to evolve. There needs to be a continued resolve to fight these threats to our way of life, and Koontz outlined a few ways the Canadian and American governments are working to towards these goals.
Doyle Piwniuk, MLA for Turtle Mountain and Peace Garden board member, told a story from a close friend related to 9/11. The friend told his family about what happened on that day. One of his children, a rocket scientist, had a meeting in the Pentagon that day. At the last minute, the meeting was moved to an adjacent building. While there, he saw the airplane come closer, and took cover. After the explosion, he could not contact his parents for hours about where he was as the communications were overwhelmed.
“How many other families had experienced that same thing of having to wait hours to find out about where their loved ones were, and some families never had that opportunity,” Piwniuk related.
He added his mother-in-law’s family was in New York, and they wondered if they were safe on that day, having toured the city with them earlier. He had seen the WTC then and said there was no way he could have imagined pieces of it would be in the Peace Garden now.
Another board member, Jon Nelson of the North Dakota House of Representatives asked where everyone was on the morning of September 11. He said very few events in his lifetime burned that strongly into his memory. Despite the destruction, he said the bonds between North Dakotans and Manitobans only tightened from the tragedy.
“We are family, and the prairie region of the North American continent makes us all family,” Nelson stated.
In closing, he said now was the time to work for peace and to build something positive. He recalled the heroes of United Flight 93.
“The time is now, let’s roll.”
Peace Garden President Dorothy Dobbie asked everyone to remember common humanity, and when we look at each other without division that is “when the sun shines.” We need to stand together for the things that bind us together. The wreckage at the Peace Garden shows what happens when people are ingrained with a single way of thought, but the rest of the garden can help us heal.
“Let it be forever a reminder that peace and understanding, that fellowship and creative thinking are what point the way to a better future for our people and our children,” concluded Dobbie.

by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff