While ceremonies continue across the United States and abroad, in Montreal, firefighters paused to remember 9/11. Thousands were killed in the terrorist attacks 25 years ago, including 343 firefighters who never made it home. There is now a physical reminder of that day, a piece of steel recovered from the World Trade Center in Montreal. While the exact number is not clear, it’s reported that hundreds of Canadian firefighters rushed to New York City in the aftermath of 9/11, including several from Montreal. “I know at least five firefighters from Westmount Fire Department went down [and] several from the former City of Montreal Fire Department,” said Montreal Fire Service (SIM) director Richard Leibmann. The U.S. Consul General calls Montreal’s response an unforgettable act of kindness. “Montreal welcomed 17 flights here that couldn’t land in the United States,” said Consul General Jennifer Nichols. “Those stranded passengers had nowhere to go.” Two-and-a-half decades later, the bond between the two cities continues to grow stronger, according to Montreal’s deputy mayor Effie Giannou. “Anything that’s happening today doesn’t take away from the importance of today, of this commemoration,” said Giannou. For firefighters, 9/11 is also a reminder of the risks they take every day. Today, the Quebec Firefighters Foundation started a four-day relay event to raise money for burn survivors across the province. For the men and women who wear the uniform, their mission is clear. “Firefighters are always the people who are called when people are facing their most difficult times, and we have to be ready for that,” said Liebmann.
