Gander is a charming town nestled in the northeastern part of the island of Newfoundland in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. Approximately 40 km south of Gander Bay, 100 km south of Twillingate, and 90 km east of Grand Falls-Windsor, Gander is a hub of history and natural beauty. The town is situated on the northeastern shore of Gander Lake and is home to Gander International Airport, a crucial refuelling stop for transatlantic aircraft and a preferred emergency landing point for aircraft facing on-board medical or security issues.
Gander was chosen for the construction of an airport in 1935 due to its proximity to the great circle route between New York and London. The town began to develop with the construction of the base in 1936. The first landing at "Newfoundland Airport," now known as Gander International Airport, was made by Captain Douglas Fraser on 11 January 1938.
During the Second World War, Gander became a strategic post for the Air Ferry Command of the Royal Air Force, housing as many as 10,000 Canadian, British, and American military personnel. Post-war, the airbase transitioned into a civilian airport, and the town was moved a safe distance from the runways. The present town site began construction in the 1950s, and the municipality was incorporated in 1958.
Gander was the site of a major aircraft accident, Arrow Air Flight 1285, on 12 December 1985, which resulted in 256 fatalities. In 2001, Gander International Airport played a significant role in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, accommodating 38 commercial aircraft and 4 military aircraft, housing nearly 6,700 evacuees.
Gander is located 310 km northwest of the provincial capital of St. John's. The underlying bedrock is formed of Ordovician-era shale, slate, and greywacke, covered by stony loam to silt loam podzolic or gleysolic soil.
As per the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, Gander had a population of 11,880 living in 5,068 of its 5,424 total private dwellings, a change of 1.6% from its 2016 population of 11,688.
Gander experiences a cool to cold humid continental climate, with moderately warm and rainy summers and cold, very snowy winters. The average frost-free period runs from June 1 to October 16–136 days.
Gander offers all the conveniences of a major centre, including a continually expanding business park, two malls, and branches of all five major Canadian banks. Medical services are provided by the James Paton Memorial Health Centre, and telephone services are provided by Bell Aliant.
Gander has been featured in various forms of media, including the Nevil Shute novel No Highway, the miniseries Above and Beyond, and the musical Come from Away.
In 1991, the International Astronomical Union's Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature officially named a crater on Mars after Gander.
Gander is home to several public parks and trails, including Cobbs Pond Rotary Park, Thomas Howe Demonstration Forest, Gander Heritage Trails, Newfoundland Trailway, and the Airport Nordic Ski Club.
In 2017, the 103 Search and Rescue Squadron, RCAF received the Freedom of the Town award.
