Widow of Canadian killed in 9/11 wants to ‘redefine’ the day

Maureen Basnicki, the widow of Ken Basnicki, who was killed in the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, is striving to "redefine" the day. The "Service Day" dinner organized by Maureen is to express gratitude towards service men and women, including those who fought in Afghanistan, supported Canadians after 9/11, and continue serving our communities. Her husband, Ken, was one of the 3000 lives lost and was killed when Al Qaeda terrorists hijacked planes and flew them into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Centre.

Upon hearing the news, Maureen, a flight attendant at the time, was in Frankfurt when she turned on the television and witnessed the second plane crash into the South Tower. Desperate to speak to her husband, she went to the hotel lobby and asked the concierge to call Ken. Ken, who had a cellphone, could not be reached. Maureen's mother-in-law received a call from Ken, informing her that he was trapped on the 106th floor of the World Trade Centre, where smoke was filling the room and the roof was blocked.

Ken's last words to his mother were, "Mom, something horrible has happened. The room is full of smoke, the roof is blocked and I don't know how I'm going to get out. I'm on the 106th floor of the World Trade Centre."

After the attacks, Maureen was stranded in Germany for three days due to the closure of the skies. She stayed in touch with her family, keeping them informed of her mother-in-law's distressing updates. The family waited anxiously for news of Ken's fate, ultimately accepting that he was not a survivor. Since then, Maureen has been advocating for survivors of terrorism and advocating for a change in the narrative surrounding 9/11.

She emphasizes the importance of remembering the day as a celebration of our values, rather than focusing solely on the hate and horror of the event. She encourages Canadians to commemorate 9/11 by engaging in acts of service, such as participating in the Terry Fox Run or donating blood.