Alpha Connect · Community Thanksgiving Monday, October 12, 2026
Happy Thanksgiving from the Alpha Family
Thanksgiving is a day to slow down, gather the people who matter and say thank you out loud. This year, we want to share a little history, a few simple ways to give thanks, and a warm invitation: tell us what you are thankful for.
We are located in Tkaronto (Toronto), on land cared for by the Anishinabek Nation, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy and the Huron-Wendat, and now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We acknowledge the current treaty holders, the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. This territory is covered by the Dish With One Spoon Wampum Belt Covenant, an agreement to peaceably share and care for the land and its resources.
A short history of Thanksgiving in Canada
Giving thanks at harvest time is much older than the holiday on our calendars. Foods many of us enjoy this weekend, such as corn, squash, beans, cranberries and wild rice, are native to North America and were grown, gathered and shared here for generations.
The holiday we know today took shape slowly, over more than 350 years.
- Long before
Harvest thanks on this land
Indigenous peoples across what is now Canada held fall harvest celebrations and gave thanks long before European settlers arrived.
- 1578
A first European thanksgiving
Explorer Martin Frobisher and his crew held a thanksgiving service in the Eastern Arctic, in what is now Nunavut, for their safe passage.
- 1606
The Order of Good Cheer
At Port Royal, Samuel de Champlain started the Order of Good Cheer, a series of feasts to lift spirits through the winter. Local Mi'kmaq families were invited to share in them.
- 1879
An annual national day
Parliament declared November 6 a national day of thanksgiving. For years afterward, the date was set each year and moved around the fall.
- 1957
The second Monday in October
Parliament proclaimed the second Monday in October as Thanksgiving, giving thanks for the harvest. That is the date we still celebrate today.
Source: The Canadian Encyclopedia, “Thanksgiving in Canada”.
Thanksgiving means different things to different people. Some Indigenous people give thanks to the Creator at this time of year, others celebrate in their own ways, and some choose not to mark the holiday at all. We respect every perspective. To keep learning, read our reflection on Orange Shirt Day and the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Why gratitude matters to us
Gratitude is more than good manners. It is how we notice the people who carry us, and it is at the heart of the work our three companies do every day: teaching, caring and feeding people well.
Alpha Career College
Thankful for every student who shows up, works hard and trusts us with their future.
Alpha Resources Ltd.
Thankful for every team member and partner who shows up with care, day after day.
Alpha Katering
Thankful for every client who lets us cook for their celebrations and bring people together.
Your turn
What are you thankful for?
Big or small, it counts. Write one line, turn it into a gratitude card, then share it and tag the Alpha family.
For Instagram or TikTok, download your card, post it from the app and paste the caption. Nothing you type here is saved or sent to us.
Tag the Alpha family
Post a photo of your table, your favourite dish or a note of thanks. Tag us and use our hashtags so we can cheer you on.
#AlphaFamily #HappyThanksgiving
Small ways to give thanks
Gratitude is a habit, and it grows when we share it. Try one of these this long weekend:
- Say it out loud Tell one person why you are thankful for them. A quick call or text counts.
- Make room at the table Invite a classmate, coworker or neighbour who may be far from home this year.
- Share a meal Cook together, pass the dishes around and put the phones away for an hour.
- Give back Donate non-perishable food or an hour of your time to a local food bank.
- Learn whose land you are on Take a moment to learn about the First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities where you live.
A shoutout to our friends at Alpha Katering
Hosting at the last minute? Let Alpha Katering help.
Plans change, guests multiply and the oven has a mind of its own. If you need catering for a gathering, a team lunch or a family dinner, reach out and the team will do their best to help.
From our table to yours
To our students, graduates, clients, partners, staff and neighbours: thank you for being part of the Alpha family. We wish you a warm, safe and joyful Thanksgiving, surrounded by good food and good people.
With gratitude, Alpha Career College · Alpha Resources Ltd. · Alpha Katering
