Two families from opposite ends of North America say the tragedy of 9/11 has resulted in an unlikely friendship.

As planes were diverted to airports all over Atlantic Canada – leaving thousands of passengers stranded in airports, schools and other buildings – Maritimers began to step up and help out.

"I always think of the family we had here, because that was the biggest impact it had on me," says Marilyn Price, who opened her Lower Sackville, N.S. home to an American family affected by the attack.

The Spekschates - a family of six from Louisiana - were on their way home from a family trip to Amsterdam. They were scheduled to land in Atlanta, Ga., when they first realized something was wrong.

"All of a sudden it got quiet. We noticed the stewardesses were going up to the pilot and then back. They looked a little concerned, but not panicked," recalls Fanny Spekschate.

"We didn't know exactly where we were going to land. I think the pilot first said we were going to try to land in Toronto, I believe, and then it was full so we were routed to Halifax."

Shortly after 11:30 that morning, the first of 40 aircrafts to be diverted to Halifax landed at the Stanfield International Airport.

Nearly 8,000 passengers made an unexpected stop in Halifax that day. The Spekschates were taken to Sackville High School.

“We were greeted by teenagers. There was one teenager for every person on the bus, and that was very heartwarming to us, because at that time we didn't know what occurred," says Maria Wiggins, Spekschate's daughter.

"I really felt I should be doing something to help,” says Price. “I knew a lot of people were, so I was wishing to do something. Then we got a call from my friend who was a teacher at the school and she had this family of six and wanted to know if we would take them."

The Price family welcomed the Spekschate family into their home and formed a friendship that still exists to this day.

"For them, it was a very stressful time. But for us, I enjoyed having them and felt good about having them," says Price.  

"We went sightseeing. He took us around to Peggys Cove and other places of interest. It was wonderful,” says Spekschate.

Price and Spekschate - both schoolteachers - still keep in touch through phone calls and emails and Spekschate even returned to Nova Scotia for a visit back in 2005.

The Price family intends to visit Louisiana in the future.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Allan April.