Brian Crombie Radio Hour - Epi 1664 - You Are Here: The Spirit of Gander and the Canada We Want to Become

On this Canada Day special edition of The Brian Crombie Hour, Brian explores the themes of kindness, community, and the values that define Canada at its best.In Part 1, Brian is joined by Toronto-based producer Peter Gentile to discuss the documentary You Are Here: A Come From Away Story, which tells the remarkable true story behind the hit musical Come From Away.Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, nearly 6,700 airline passengers aboard 38 diverted flights found themselves stranded in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland and Labrador. In an extraordinary act of generosity, local residents opened their homes, schools, churches, and hearts to complete strangers, creating one of the most inspiring stories of compassion and community in modern Canadian history.In Part 2, Brian delivers a special Canada Day commentary reflecting on what Canada has been—and what it must become. Amid housing challenges, global instability, technological change, growing loneliness, and political polarization, he argues that Canada's greatest aspiration should not simply be to become bigger or wealthier, but to become better: more generous, more united, more courageous, and more committed to creating communities where people feel they belong.The story of Gander offers a powerful reminder that Canada is at its best when people show up for one another—and that spirit of kindness and connection may hold the key to the country's future.A heartfelt Canada Day conversation about compassion, belonging, and the kind of nation Canadians still have the opportunity to build together.