From Transatlantic Crisis to Global Stage

The hit musical “Come From Away” has returned to its roots with a summer production staged at the local arts center in Gander, Newfoundland. Featuring local actors for its townsperson roles, the staging brings direct authenticity to the story of how a small municipality accommodated thousands of stranded airline passengers during the September 11 terrorist attacks.

A Spontaneous Community Response

On September 11, 2001, 38 international flights landed at Gander’s airport due to its far northeast location. The sudden arrival of nearly 7,000 passengers challenged the town of around 12,000 residents, which had even fewer inhabitants at the time. Lacking an official contingency plan for such an influx, former Mayor Claude Elliott declared a state of emergency.

Residents quickly mobilized to care for the visitors, whom locals referred to as the “plane people.” Volunteers transformed churches, schools, and the Royal Canadian Legion into temporary shelters, using the ice surface at the local hockey rink as a refrigerator for donated food supplies. Resident Beulah Cooper was among those who stepped up, making sandwiches, transporting passengers to pay phones, and opening her home for showers and sleep.

Enduring Legacy and Tourism

The town’s actions inspired “Come From Away,” which premiered on Broadway in 2017, won a Tony Award, and toured globally. Elliott, who initially doubted how sandwiches and supplies could make a compelling show, has since seen it 139 times across Canada, the United States, Australia, the United Kingdom, Spain, and New Zealand.

Today, Gander sees a steady flow of visitors, known locally as “Come From Aways” or CFAs. The North Atlantic Aviation Museum displays thank-you notes from passengers alongside steel beams from the Twin Towers, while the local Legion hosts traditional “screech-in” ceremonies where tourists can become honorary Newfoundlanders.

Widespread Condemnation Follows Defense Secretary’s Post

A social media post by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth featuring two female military cadets at a British Columbia training centre has drawn sharp criticism from international figures and Canadian leaders.

Actor George Clooney addressed the post on Wednesday at the Venice Film Festival, where he was awarded a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. Clooney described feeling “ashamed” of the post, questioning the lack of decency and criticizing the notion that cruelty has become acceptable. Despite his concerns regarding current politics and leadership under U.S. President Donald Trump, Clooney expressed optimism that upcoming November midterm elections could help restore balance.

Canadian Political and Community Responses

Canadian leaders also denounced the post. Prime Minister Mark Carney noted the message was “beneath their office” and urged U.S. officials to focus on serious trade discussions rather than social media commentary. British Columbia Premier David Eby labeled Hegseth’s post an embarrassment and an attack on volunteer cadets who serve an allied nation, describing the situation as “amateur hour.” Defence Minister David McGuinty similarly stated the post was “below the dignity of the office he holds.”

When asked on Tuesday about the growing backlash, Pentagon deputy press secretary Jacob Bliss offered a brief response to The Canadian Press, stating, “The X post speaks for itself.”

The Army Cadet League of Canada issued a statement on Facebook strongly condemning online harassment and mockery directed at youth. The organization emphasized that its programs offer leadership and training to young Canadians free of barriers, reaffirming its support for cadets, staff, and volunteers across the country.

Questions Over Federal Investment Leadership

An opposition shadow minister is calling for explanations regarding a sudden departure at the country’s investment agency alongside a controversial board appointment.

In an official letter addressed to Prime Minister Mark Carney, Aaron Gunn, Conservative Shadow Minister for Ethics and Accountable Government, pressed the federal government about the resignation of the Invest in Canada Chief Executive Officer. The departure occurred unannounced more than a year before the end of the term, coming shortly ahead of a major investment summit.

Concerns Surrounding Board Chair Appointment

The correspondence follows the naming of Dominic Barton as the new Chair of the Board for Invest in Canada. Gunn pointed to Barton’s former leadership at consulting firm McKinsey, noting past controversies including a $650 million settlement concerning advice given to Purdue Pharma regarding OxyContin sales, as well as work with Chinese state-owned enterprises.

Gunn also criticized Barton’s previous role leading the Liberal Advisory Council on Economic Growth, highlighting that McKinsey received $200 million in federal contracts between 2015 and 2023, with the Auditor General determining that 90 per cent were granted outside proper guidelines.

Inquiries Into Unexplained Departures

In addition to the departure at Invest in Canada, Gunn noted expectations that the head of the newly-created Defence Investment Agency will also resign. Comparing the timing to a professional hockey coach stepping down ten days prior to the Stanley Cup Finals, the shadow minister questioned whether political motivations were behind the vacancies.

“Did you push out the head of Invest in Canada to fill the job with a fellow Liberal insider?” Gunn wrote in the letter. “Why are favoured insiders still getting cushy appointments despite their record of failure and waste? What’s the real reason the heads of Canada’s investment agencies are resigning so suddenly?”

Gunn stated that Conservatives will push for answers to ensure the federal government remains accountable to working families and businesses.