Memorial service in Woodbine Park held to mark 25th anniversary of 9/11 terrorist attacks
By MATTHEW STEPHENS
On the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, nearly 3,000 people were killed in the United States following terrorist attacks.
With 24 Canadians among those lost to the events of 9/11, people continue to come together and honour the lives of those who perished on that day 25 years ago.
At Millennium Garden in Woodbine Park on Friday, Sept. 11, residents gathered with representatives of the Toronto Police Service and Toronto Fire Services for a special memorial ceremony to reflect on the 25th anniversary of the attacks. The ceremony was organized by Centre 55 and local historian Gene Domagala.
“As we remember today who’s gone before us, may we honour them not with just our words, but by how we live,” said Rev. Dr. Wendell Gibbs at Woodbine Park on Sept. 11, marking the 25th anniversary of 9/11.
The memorial service began with a ceremonial piping led by Sarah Severn, followed by a listening of the Canadian and American national anthems and a reading of Jim McGregor’s poem Climb Higher, read by a member of Toronto Fire Services.
Longtime Beach resident Domagala and Toronto Police Chaplain Gibbs offered some words and prayer during the service, reflecting on the courageous acts of those who sacrificed their lives to ensure the safety of others on that day.
“On this day, September 11, we gather in solemn reflection and remembrance of the lives lost, the families forever changed, and all who responded with courage and compassion,” said Gibbs.
The event closed out with a placing of flowers at the park’s memorial stone.
In an interview with Beach Metro Community News following the service, Gibbs stressed the importance of human resolve in times of crisis and mourning.
“This service is important because human resolve matters as we continue to live in a fearful world,” said Gibbs. “Looking back 25 years, people are still hurting, people are still remembering. So what matters is that we continue in the future to come together as humans to overcome the hate and the violence we see in play in our world.”
Longtime resident and former United States citizen Carole Stimmell, and a former Editor of Beach Metro Community News, said it’s important for all North Americans to come together and reflect on the tragic events of 9/11, despite which side of the border you come from.
“It was such a horrific experience for everyone, and everybody remembers where they were when it happened,” said Stimmell.
“For the next couple of years afterwards, there were wars and everything, but we kept remembering. I think it’s a big deal to mark where we have gotten from there to here. What did we learn? How have we grown? Have things gotten worse or have things gotten better?”
With recent tensions high between Canada and the United States, Stimmell said she had contemplated not returning to a family summer home in the American state of New Hampshire this year.
“I’ve debated this year whether I was going to go or not. I just thought that it isn’t the cottage, it isn’t the people – it was just the thought that somehow it was like a betrayal to go back to the U.S. at this time,” said Stimmell.
She said she remains hopeful for the Canadian/American alliance to eventually resolve itself under the power of mutual support.
“Unfortunately, Canada and the U.S. are intertwined geographically, and we just have to pray that this too will pass, and everybody will realize that we’re all in this together,” she said.
In a recent email, former Beach Metro Community News General Manager Sheila Blinoff reflected on the happenings at the newspaper’s office when the attack occurred in 2001.
“It was Tuesday, distribution day at the paper. Just before 9 a.m. the staff and some of the volunteers arrived. We were waiting for the delivery truck,” said Blinoff. “Don Smith, one of the area captains, came in through the back door and said: Did you hear about the plane that hit a tower? Don was a joker, so I asked: ‘Is this another one of your stories?’”
After confirming that the World Trade Center in New York had been hit by two planes, Stimmell, who was the Editor at the time, told others in the office that “One plane could be an accident. A second one is not.”
“All morning the phones were ringing, as people called us for information. We knew no more than they did,” said Blinoff in her email.
She described the eerie quietness that had befallen the Beach on that day, noting that “Queen Street and the side streets were almost deserted.”
“I called a friend and we went to Whitlocks on Queen for lunch,” said Blinoff. “We sat by the window as a few people scurried along, heads down. There were hardly any vehicles moving. It was so quiet.”
