ORANGEVILLE HIGHLANDS ROTARY PRESENTS:
AN EVENING OF COURAGE, HOPE & INSPIRATION WITH 9/11 SURVIVOR JOE DITTMAR
The Orangeville Highlands Rotary is honoured to present an evening featuring 9/11 survivor, keynote speaker, and educator Joe Dittmar on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, at the Monora Park Pavilion. Commemorating the 25th anniversary of 9/11, this special community event brings one of the world's most compelling eyewitness accounts of survival and humanity to Dufferin County. The club is fortunate to have Joe Dittmar return to our District again after his keynote speech at the 2025 District Conference.
On the morning of September 11, 2001, Joe Dittmar was attending a business meeting on the 105th floor of Two World Trade Center (South Tower) when disaster struck. Of the 54 insurance executives in attendance, Dittmar is one of only seven who survived. His harrowing descent down 105 flights of stairs, escaping mere minutes before the tower's collapse, offers a gripping perspective on crisis survival, rapid decision-making, and the bravery of first responders.
A Globally Recognized Voice Across Broadcast Media
Through his dedicated work with the Always Remember Initiative, Dittmar has shared his message of resilience with millions around the globe. His emotional testimony has led to high-profile broadcast features worldwide, including:
- The Oprah Winfrey Show: Invited onto The Oprah Winfrey Show to share his poignant, first-person narrative of escaping the 105th floor, honoring fallen colleagues, and finding gratitude and purpose in the aftermath of tragedy.
- Major Broadcast Networks: Featured across premier news networks including ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN, and CityNews for in-depth coverage and historical commentary.
- Documentaries & International Specials: Interviewed for global broadcast docuseries and specialized retrospectives
- —including platforms like the UK’s History Hit
- —providing a minute-by-minute timeline inside the South Tower.
Event Details
- Event Title: An Evening of Courage. Hope. Inspiration. Always Remember: A Story of Survival, Strength & Gratitude
- Date & Time: Tuesday, September 29, 2026 | Doors open at 6:00 PM
- Location: Monora Park, 500 Monora Park Drive, Orangeville, ON
- Tickets: $65 + HST (Includes light refreshments)
- Box Office: Online at http://www.dufferinbot.ca/remember911 or in person at Booklore (Orangeville)
Empowering the Local Community
All proceeds from ticket sales directly support the Orangeville Highlands Rotary Club’s Annual Community Choice Grants, funding local grassroots initiatives and impactful community projects across Dufferin County.
All proceeds from ticket sales directly support the Orangeville Highlands Rotary Club’s Annual Community Choice Grants, funding local grassroots initiatives and impactful community projects across Dufferin County.
For more information contact:
Susanne Zbinden – 519-217-6918
Immediate Past District Governor 2025-26
Member of Orangeville Highlands Rotary
Immediate Past District Governor 2025-26
Member of Orangeville Highlands Rotary