Contrary to what you may be thinking, Canadian Thanksgiving is not a knock-off of the American ceremony; it arises from separate traditions paralleling Nishnabai observances of the Harvest on Turtle Island.
First European Thanksgiving (1578) occurred in what is now Canada, when English explorer Martin Frobisher held a thanksgiving ceremony in Nunavut, giving thanks for safe passage through the treacherous Arctic. The crew dined on salt beef, biscuits, and mushy peas, and observed Communion.
Thanksgiving in Canada was only formally established on its present date (second Monday in October) by Federal legislation in 1957.
For Thanksgiving Monday this year, government offices are closed, be they municipal, Provincial or Federal.
Banks and financial institutions are closed today, and most all retailers take the day off as well. Corner stores and Cannabis outlets are the exception- with the latter only required to close on Christmas Day.
If Alcohol is your pleasure, sorry. Both the LCBO and the Beer Store are closed today.
Foodstuffs will not be available today, as No Frills, Metro and Giant Tiger are all closed.
Shoppers Drug Mart is open for your pharmaceutical needs from 8AM to 10PM, and also stocks an array of food items.
Oldies 107.7 offices are closed so that staff can be with our families- as is our News Department unless Breaking News coverage is warranted.
We look forward to serving you with regular programming returning Tuesday, October 14th.
By Rick Stow
