COLUMN: On Parliament Hill – A time to be thankful

This past weekend, Canadians gathered to celebrate Thanksgiving—a time to pause and reflect on the many blessings in our lives. For people of faith, it’s a moment to thank God for His goodness and provision. For others, it’s an opportunity to express gratitude more intentionally. We come together in appreciation, surrounded by the beauty of creation, the air we freely breathe, and the warmth of family and friendship. It’s a season to cultivate virtues like love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness—and perhaps a little less self-control when it comes to the turkey dinner.

Still for some, enjoying a turkey meal may not have been possible this year. Families across Canada have faced challenges, from rising costs to uncertain times, to a housing crisis, to unemployment… Some economists have called this last 10 years the lost decade, because of the many trials Canadians are facing.

Yet, Thanksgiving calls us to pause, to look around the table, and to remember the blessings that remain in our families, our communities, our country, and here in Provencher. Because even when times are tough, even when life hurts, even when the realization of dreams fall short, there are reasons to be thankful. Sometimes, we just need to dig a little deeper.

Looking back, our history reminds us that strong communities are built on sacrifice, commitment, follow-through—and gratitude for the foundations laid by those who came before us. Over the years, we’ve seen communities expand, parades wind their way down main streets, and even the Queen herself visit the fairgrounds—now home to Loewen Windows. Our region also boasts a deep Christian heritage, with many churches that have long served and shaped our communities. Today, Provencher continues to thrive, with Niverville standing out as Manitoba’s fastest-growing community.

What started with 12 families moving in 1874 to what is now Steinbach, has continued to blossom and expand. While these early families experienced disastrous crops the first two years—their spirit of perseverance saw a bountiful harvest in the third year. That same resilience and determination in our communities live on—and deserve to be celebrated with thanksgiving.

The practice of Thanksgiving in Canada reaches back long before Confederation. The Province of Canada first held a national celebration in 1859, organized by Protestant clergy. But even earlier, Indigenous peoples marked the fall harvest with communal feasts of gratitude, giving thanks for nature’s abundance. And as far back as 1578, early European settlers arriving in what is now Nunavut gathered to give thanks for their safe passage—a tradition of gratitude that continues to shape our national character today.

It was not until Nov. 6, 1879, that Thanksgiving became an annual event, and then in 1957, Parliament reserved the second Monday in October “as a day of general thanksgiving to almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed.”

Each year, Thanksgiving draws us back to some of what matters most: gathering with family, sharing food from the harvest, and giving thanks to God.

This Thanksgiving, I am especially grateful for the communities of Provencher—their steadfast faith, strong families who work hard and raise the next generation, and the farmers whose dedication brings life to our tables. I also, give thanks for Canada itself—a nation built through sacrifice, strengthened by courage, and sustained by hope.

I hope you had great Thanksgiving weekend. May God bless your families, may God bless Provencher, and may God bless our beloved Canada.