GANDER, Newfoundland — U.S. Ambassador to Canada Pete Hoekstra will visit Gander on Friday to thank residents who took in thousands of stranded Americans after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, but his reception is unfolding against a sharp deterioration in relations between Washington and Ottawa. Hoekstra said the anniversary visit is intended to honor the town’s generosity during one of America’s darkest moments. “During a very dark time, the people of Newfoundland showed us what true community really means,” Hoekstra said. He added that he was returning to offer thanks “on behalf of those who were stranded” and the United States as a whole. The diplomatic gesture has not silenced criticism. Hoekstra has backed President Donald Trump’s aggressive posture toward Canada, including brushing aside Trump’s repeated comments about making Canada the 51st state and engaging in public disputes involving Canadian political leaders. The ambassador has also amplified provocations, including a recent fight over the name of Lake Ontario. More than 268,000 Canadians have signed a nonbinding petition urging Parliament to remove Hoekstra from the country. The U.S. Embassy has not joined the campaign, and Hoekstra is proceeding with the Gander visit despite the backlash. His schedule includes meetings with residents who opened their homes to passengers and families, along with events recognizing the relationship forged during the crisis. Gander’s municipal government acknowledged that many Canadians are frustrated with the current state of Canada-U.S. relations. But officials stressed that inviting Hoekstra should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the ambassador, the president or their political positions. “September 11 is bigger than politics, personalities or titles,” the town said in a statement. “Gander’s story from September 11 has never been about politics. It has been about people.” The town of roughly 10,000 became a refuge under Operation Yellow Ribbon, which diverted international flights to Canadian airports after the attacks shut down North American air travel. Gander International Airport received 38 aircraft carrying nearly 7,000 passengers. With too few hotel rooms to accommodate the unexpected visitors, local residents opened their houses. Schools, churches and municipal buildings became sleeping quarters. Residents prepared meals, provided showers and entertainment, and pharmacies filled prescriptions at no charge. The passengers began departing Sept. 13, but many maintained friendships with their hosts. Former U.S. Ambassador David Cohen defended Hoekstra’s decision to attend, arguing that the ambassador is representing Trump rather than acting independently of the administration. “You shouldn’t be angry at Ambassador Hoekstra. You should be angry at Donald Trump,” Cohen said. Cohen said Hoekstra understood that some residents would object to his presence but was determined to thank the people of Gander for helping Americans when they were in desperate need. The town has previously used the Gander story to reinforce the longstanding ties between ordinary Canadians and Americans. In 2017, former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invited Ivanka Trump to see “Come From Away,” the Broadway musical based on the town’s response to 9/11. Gander officials said the lesson of that week was not that the two countries would always agree. It was that neighbors could put political disputes aside when lives were at stake. “There are times when we will disagree,” the town council said. “There are also times when we have to recognize that something is bigger than those differences.”