The U.S. Ambassador to Canada, Pete Hoekstra calls his experience sharing the memories of 9/11 in Gander an “awesome” one.

Hoekstra’s presence garnered some controversy given Donald Trump’s trade war with Canada, but the town asked residents and Canadians as a whole to set aside politics in remembrance of lives lost.

He tells VOCM News he was very moved by the stories he’s heard.

“We heard the untold stories last night, phenomenal…just awesome.” He says “you get a feeling for the genuineness of what’s going on here. We would call this ‘small town America’ and as politicians, I’ve always loved it.”

He says “there’s no better place” in Canada to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 911 than in Gander.

Listen to “US Ambassador Pete Hoekstra in Gander” on Spreaker.