September 11, 2002
Lieutenant Governor James Bartleman, Premier Ernie Eves, Ms. Antoinette Swain Marwitz, U.S. Consul General, Members of Provincial Parliament, City Councillors, emergency personnel, ladies and gentlemen.
365 days ago, the unthinkable happened in North America.
We watched in horror as hijacked passenger jets crashed into the twin towers of the world trade centre, killing thousands.
We also witnessed incredible bravery shown by firefighters who fought to contain the flames at the pentagon.
And our hearts swelled at the courage shown by passengers aboard that hijacked jet in Pensylvania who vowed to prevent a third disaster from taking place.
"Let's Roll." Those words took on new meaning when the men and women aboard flight 93 knowingly sacrificed themselves to save the lives of people they didn't even know.
Terrorism used to be something that occurred in far away places. It was something that happened in Israel, not New York or Washington.
But on the morning of September 11, 2001, this evil was suddenly in our backyard - and our world changed forever.
In the past year, we have mourned our dead.
One death that morning would have been one too many; 3,053 deaths and counting was beyond comprehension.
Our hearts went out to the widows and widowers, the parents who lost children and the children who lost their parents.
Nothing will bring back the men and women who perished that fateful morning a year ago today - or make their families whole again.
In the past year, we have waged a war on terror.
Canadian soldiers have been front and centre in Afghanistan, and our efforts to erradicate evil wherever it exists continues to this day.
In the past year, we have learned to be vigilant.
Our airports are more secure. Our buildings are safer. Our police have heightened their state of readiness and our resolve to stamp out terror remains strong. This is now our way of life.
We must always remember those who perished on September 11, 2001.
We must also continue to be vigilant. We must keep waging war on terror whenever and wherever it rears its cowardly, ugly head.
If we can do these things, then the world will be a better place - for everyone.
Thank you.
