10/09/2026
Did you know the Canadian Parliament made Thanksgiving an annual holiday in 1879, but unlike today, the date was not fixed. It could fall in October or November depending on the year’s proclamation. The modern Canadian Thanksgiving date—the second Monday in October—became official in 1957.
For families on the Saskatchewan prairie, Thanksgiving was closely connected to the harvest. After months of planting, cultivating and harvesting, families gathered to give thanks for the food they had grown and the work that had sustained them. Thanksgiving meant church, family, neighbours and a shared meal—an opportunity to celebrate the harvest and prepare for the long prairie winter ahead.
Today, Thanksgiving is celebrated much the same. While I’m not a farmer, I am thankful for our bountiful garden, now preserved. I’m excited about a weekend full of family and friends visiting and sharing meals.
On behalf of the Lumsden Museum, we wish you a Happy Thanksgiving.
Friends of Lumsden Museum
Lumsden Locals