Bush in Halifax: 'Thank you for your kindness'

U.S. President George W. Bush arrived in Halifax on Wednesday to thank Atlantic Canadians for opening their doors to stranded Americans after the Sept. 11 attacks three years ago.

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"I am really glad to be in Canada and I am really glad to be among friends," Bush told his audience at the Pier 21 museum on the Halifax waterfront, the building where hundreds of thousands of immigrants first stepped onto Canadian soil between 1928 and 1971.

On Sept. 11, 2001, the president said, "Canadians came to the aid of men and women and children who were worried and confused and had no place to sleep ... and you asked for nothing in return.

"Thank you for your kindness to Americans in an hour of need...

"Our two peoples are one family and always will be."

'We are in it together': Martin

Prime Minister Paul Martin, many federal cabinet ministers and all four Atlantic premiers attended the event, along with more than 300 invited guests.

As he welcomed the president, Martin recounted stories of friendships formed between the 33,000 passengers stranded in Canada in September of 2001 and their Canadian hosts.

He recalled how Americans rushed to help Nova Scotians in a similar way after the 1917 Halifax explosion.

And he bluntly said that the neighbouring countries are not at odds when it comes to protecting their citizens in the future.

"We are in a war against terrorism and we are in it together, Americans and Canadians," Martin said to applause from the crowd.

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After United States closed its airspace in response to the crash of four jets that had been hijacked by al-Qaeda operatives, a total of 224 planes were diverted to Canada.

Most of them went to international airports in the Atlantic region.

Volunteers in places like Moncton, N.B.; Halifax, N.S.; and Gander, Nfld. immediately kicked into action, opening shelters and providing food and comfort.

• FROM NOV. 30, 2004: Bush says Canada, U.S. 'standing together'

Many of those who became instant hosts were invited to Wednesday's ceremony.

Cheryl Boyle travelled from Prince Edward Island to Halifax to meet Bush and receive his personal thanks.

In the days after the Sept. 11 tragedy, she baked 231 apple pies and sent them to firefighters in New York, who had lost hundreds of colleagues when the World Trade Center towers collapsed after two of the hijacked planes hit them.

"I'm really touched that I was remembered or thought about," she said. "I feel like it's a real honour."

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Some of the Prince Edward Islanders initially invited to the event were disappointed Tuesday night when the Prime Minister's Office phoned to say they couldn't come after all.

They told CBC that they were being bumped by VIPs requesting seats.

Second round of protests expected

Not everyone in Halifax feels honoured about the American president's visit, though.

Barricades have been erected along Bush's route to deter protesters and no ships will be allowed to move in Halifax harbour except the ferry that brings foot passengers back and forth from neighbouring Dartmouth.

• FROM NOV. 30, 2004: Anti-Bush protesters scuffle with police

Protesters were also out early in Ottawa, in the midst of a snowstorm, to make their presence felt before Bush's departure from the capital region at about 8:30 a.m. EST.

As many as 120 demonstrators scuffled with Ottawa police early Wednesday, surrounding a limousine being used by the American delegation.

The group, whose numbers were matched by the same number of police officers, gathered in front of the city's Chateau Laurier hotel.

Bush was not at the hotel. He passed the night at the official residence of U.S. Ambassador to Canada Paul Cellucci.

The motorcade eventually got through and left for the airport in blustery, snowy weather.

The protesters then burned Bush in effigy in front of the hotel.