On September 11, 2001, the world witnessed an act of terrorism that changed the course of history.

Nearly 3,000 people were killed when four commercial aircraft were hijacked. Two struck the World Trade Center in New York City, one struck the Pentagon in Virginia, and a fourth crashed near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, after passengers and crew fought back against the hijackers.

Among those killed were 24 Canadians.

Twenty-five years later, the scale of the tragedy remains difficult to comprehend. Behind every number was a person, a parent, spouse, child, sibling, colleague or friend. Their deaths left permanent absences in families and communities across the United States, Canada and around the world.

Remembering the Canadians Who Were Lost

At Beechwood Cemetery, National Cemetery of Canada, the Beechwood 9/11 Memorial provides a permanent place to remember the 24 Canadians who lost their lives.

Dedicated on September 15, 2002, the memorial was among the first created following the attacks. It remains the only memorial in Canada dedicated specifically to the Canadians killed on September 11, 2001.

Its plaque carries a simple and powerful inscription:

“IN REMEMBRANCE OF THE CANADIANS LOST
À LA MÉMOIRE DES VICTIMES CANADIENNES
SEPTEMBER 11 SEPTEMBRE 2001.”

The memorial was conceived by Beechwood staff member Tania Turpin, who recognized the need for a national place where Canadians could gather, mourn and share their grief. It was built with the support of community partners and the families of the victims.

Twenty-five years later, it continues to offer a place for reflection. It ensures that the Canadians who died are remembered not simply as part of a historical event, but as individuals whose lives mattered.

A Tragedy Without Borders

Although the attacks occurred in the United States, their impact immediately crossed the border.

As American airspace closed, Canada launched Operation Yellow Ribbon. Canadian airports received 224 diverted aircraft carrying more than 33,000 passengers. Communities across the country opened schools, churches, community centres and private homes to complete strangers.

In Gander, Halifax, St. John’s, Moncton, Vancouver and many other communities, Canadians provided food, shelter, clothing, transportation and comfort. These acts of compassion became an enduring part of the story of September 11.

Canada’s response demonstrated that friendship between countries is measured most clearly during moments of crisis. When the United States was attacked, Canadians did not stand at a distance. They welcomed those left stranded, supported grieving communities and stood beside their closest neighbour.

Canada Answers the Call

The attacks also marked the beginning of a much longer period of Canadian service and sacrifice.

For the first time in its history, NATO invoked Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, the principle that an attack against one member is considered an attack against all. Canada joined its allies in responding to the threat of international terrorism.

From 2001 to 2014, more than 40,000 members of the Canadian Armed Forces served in Afghanistan. Canadian diplomats, police officers, public servants, aid workers and civilians also contributed to the mission. They worked to combat terrorism, improve security, support reconstruction and help build essential institutions.

The cost was profound.

A total of 158 Canadian Armed Forces members and seven Canadian civilians, a diplomat, four aid workers, a government contractor and a journalist, lost their lives during Canada’s mission in Afghanistan. Thousands of others returned with physical injuries or psychological wounds. Families endured long separations, uncertainty and grief. Many veterans continue to carry the effects of their service.

Their sacrifice forms part of Canada’s 9/11 story.

They served in support of an ally that had suffered a devastating attack. They also served in defence of shared values: peace, security, democracy and the belief that terrorism must never determine how free societies live.

Honouring First Responders and All Who Served

The 25th anniversary is also an opportunity to honour the first responders who ran toward danger on September 11.

Firefighters, police officers, paramedics, military personnel, medical professionals and ordinary citizens placed themselves at risk to save others. Many died that day. Others later developed serious illnesses linked to their work at the attack sites.

Their courage reminds us that even in the darkest moments, people are capable of extraordinary selflessness.

We also remember those who served in the years that followed: military members and veterans, intelligence and national security professionals, diplomats, humanitarian workers, emergency responders and public servants. Their work often took place far from public view, but it carried lasting consequences for them and their families.

Remembrance Is a Responsibility

A quarter-century has now passed. An entire generation has grown up without a personal memory of September 11, 2001.

That makes remembrance more important, not less.

We must continue to tell the stories of those who were killed, those who responded and those who served in the years that followed. We must help younger generations understand how the attacks changed international relations, national security and the lives of thousands of Canadian families.

Remembrance must also encourage reflection. September 11 showed the devastating consequences of hatred and extremism. It also revealed the strength of compassion, cooperation and collective resolve.

At Beechwood, remembrance is an action. It is the decision to speak the names of the fallen, preserve their stories and ensure that sacrifice is never reduced to a statistic.

Twenty-Five Years Later

On this 25th anniversary, we remember the nearly 3,000 people killed on September 11, 2001, including 24 Canadians.

We stand with their families and with all those who continue to live with the consequences of that day.

We honour the first responders who entered burning buildings to save people they had never met. We recognize the Canadians who welcomed stranded travellers when the skies closed. We remember the members of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian civilians who served—and those who gave their lives, in the years that followed.

The Beechwood 9/11 Memorial stands as a lasting expression of grief, friendship and national remembrance. It reminds us that the tragedy of September 11 crossed borders, but so did courage, compassion and sacrifice.

Twenty-five years later, Canada remembers.

We will not forget.