Wellness doesn’t always come wrapped in a spa robe.
Sometimes it comes from community. Belonging. Purpose. Kindness. And knowing that when something goes terribly wrong, people will show up for one another.
Last Friday, Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador marked the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001 — a day forever associated with unimaginable tragedy, but also with an extraordinary demonstration of humanity.
The commemoration was hosted by CBC’s and Newfoundland’s own David Cochrane, along with Newfoundlander Alan Doyle of Great Big Sea among those performing. And former Prime Minister Jean Chrétien, now 92, returned to Gander to deliver a remarkable address.
Chrétien was Canada’s prime minister on September 11, 2001.
When U.S. airspace closed, Operation Yellow Ribbon diverted 238 aircraft carrying more than 33,000 passengers and crew to Canadian airports.
Thirty-eight of those planes landed in Gander.
Almost overnight, a town of roughly 10,000 people found itself caring for thousands of unexpected guests.
And people simply got to work.
They opened schools, community centres and churches. They found beds and blankets. They prepared meals. They filled prescriptions. They cared for pets. They opened their homes.
More importantly, they opened their hearts.
Chrétien described it simply:
“When our friends are in trouble, we don’t hesitate. We act.”
He called it “the Canadian way.”
The Wellness of Belonging
I’ve been thinking about that phrase.
We often talk about wellness as something we do for ourselves: exercise, sleep, nutrition, meditation, time in nature, perhaps a restorative trip somewhere beautiful.
All of those things matter.
But there’s another dimension of wellbeing that may be just as important: our connection to other people.
Knowing someone will help.
Knowing you belong somewhere.
Knowing that when circumstances suddenly change, you’re not facing them alone.
For thousands of frightened travellers stranded far from home on September 11, Gander became that place.
And perhaps that’s one reason the story still resonates so powerfully 25 years later.
It reminds us that helping someone else can be restorative too.
Kindness Is Not Weakness
Then Chrétien turned directly to Canada’s relationship with our American neighbours.
His words were powerful:
“Yes, Canada is a generous, open country, and Canadians are tolerant and kind. But never mistake our generosity for weakness.”
He continued:
“Never, never mistake our tolerance for lack of determination, and never, never mistake our kindness for softness.”
And then came the line that, for me, connects so beautifully to what happened in Gander:
“Welcoming people from all over the world, caring for each other, including the weakest in society, is a sign of strength.”
That’s worth thinking about.
Because we sometimes talk about strength as toughness, independence or the ability to stand alone.
But what Gander demonstrated was another kind of strength.
The strength to welcome strangers.
The strength to care for someone who needs you.
The strength to be generous without expecting anything in return.
And Chrétien was equally clear that generosity doesn’t mean surrendering your own sense of who you are:
“We embrace our friends and we help them in their moment of need, but we bow to no one.”
He wasn’t speaking in anger. In fact, he specifically said so.
“Friends need to be honest with each other.”
And then, fittingly, he brought it right back to Newfoundland and Labrador:
“They will give you the shirt off their backs like they did 25 years ago. But they will always show you the respect of telling you the truth.”
As a Newfoundlander, that one made me smile.
Truth. Respect. Friendship. Good Neighbours.
Chrétien ended with what sounded almost like a toast:
“Here’s to truth, to respect, to friendship, and to good neighbours.”
Twenty-five years after one of the darkest days in modern history, those words feel worth holding onto.
CPAC has now posted Chrétien’s entire speech from the Gander commemoration. If you only caught snippets on the news, I encourage you to watch the full 13 minutes.
At 92, he’s funny, feisty, unmistakably Jean Chrétien — and as steadfast in his love of Canada as ever.
This week’s Wellness Corner isn’t about where to find the world’s best spa, what treatment to try next, or how to squeeze another few thousand steps into your day.
It’s about something much simpler.
Look after one another. Be kind. Stand strong. Know who you are.
Gander showed the world what that looked like 25 years ago.
Maybe that’s a form of wellness we could all use a little more of today.
Vive le Canada. ❤️