Where were you on September 11, 2001? That was the day of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the Pentagon and World Trade Centers. It was an event that put multiple wars into motion and changed air/travel security to what we know it as today. Wherever you were when you heard the news, the chances are that you saw the footage of the planes flying into the buildings over and over. We mourn the people on those planes. But what happened to the aircrafts that had to get re-routed, those that were headed to New York?

They landed in a little town called Gander, Newfoundland, in the North-East corner of Canada. There were over 7,000 passengers grounded there, as the 9/11 tragedy and its aftermath played out. Come From Away is the story of those 7,000 and the time they spent on the ground.

Gander, Newfoundland: An Unexpected Paradise

Imagine you were on a plane heading into NYC that fateful day in September. You find out there’s an emergency re-route, and you won’t get to your destination today. The last thing you need is to be in a foreign place, subject to the kindness of others… Unless that place is Gander. Though the people of Gander could have gone on with their days and let the hotels take care of these refugees, they did the opposite. They created welcoming circles, almost parties, where they sang and danced with the re-routed passengers.

A Global Community

The musical, Come From Away, is a heartwarming look into this day, the kindness of native Canadians, and how we’re all neighbors – no matter how far away from each other we live. You’ll get warm fuzzy feelings the entire time and walk out, ready to hold the hand of the stranger sitting next to you. It’s the perfect holiday show to see or a great present for someone you love.