10/12/2026
HAPPY THANKSGIVING FROM THE MARY WEBB CENTRE FOR THE ARTS 🍁
Thanksgiving has a long history in Canada, with early celebrations dating back to 1578. It became an official annual holiday in 1879 and has been celebrated on the second Monday of October since 1957.
Today, Thanksgiving is an opportunity not only to express gratitude for our families, friends, communities, and the harvest, but also to reflect on the rich, complex history of the land we share.
We honour the Indigenous peoples who have cared for this land since time immemorial, recognizing their enduring cultures, traditions, wisdom, and contributions, while remembering the injustices and hardships they have endured.
We also remember the early settlers and generations of newcomers who journeyed to this land, bringing their hopes, traditions, and determination to build communities, while acknowledging the profound and often painful impact of settlement on Indigenous peoples.
We express our gratitude to the Canadian soldiers, veterans, peacekeepers, and all those who have served and sacrificed, as well as the countless farmers, workers, families, volunteers, and community builders whose efforts have helped shape the Canada we know today.
Our history is one of courage, sacrifice, resilience, achievement, and hardship. It is a history worth remembering in its entirety, with both gratitude and understanding.
As we gather this Thanksgiving, may we honour those who came before us, appreciate the blessings of today, and continue working together toward a future rooted in kindness, respect, reconciliation, and community.
From all of us at the Mary Webb Centre for the Arts, we wish you and your loved ones a peaceful, meaningful, and Happy Thanksgiving. ❤️
🍁 Gratitude for today. Respect for the past. Hope for tomorrow.
