Explorer and mariner Martin Frobisher had much to be thankful for in 1578, when his fleet of ships, having struggled mightily through many hardships, finally made anchorage in Frobisher Bay.
Their minister and preacher, Master Wolfall, exhorted the gathering to be thankful to God for their strange and miraculous deliverance in those so dangerous places.
And delivered they were. One of Frobisher's ships hit an iceberg and was lost, carrying with it much of the materials needed to establish a settlement. Storms and ice had many times pounded and scattered the fleet, but they managed to reunite.
When finally the sailors and Frobisher celebrated Communion on the continent, they had reason to be thankful for their lives.
This was the only celebration of thanksgiving in Canada until 1604 when French settlers held feasts of thanks. Then, in 1763, residents of Halifax held special Thanksgiving when New France was handed over to the British. This was the beginning of a more regular celebration of thanksgiving.
Canadians named Thanksgiving a national holiday in 1879, celebrated on different dates, and in 1957 Parliament fixed the day as the second Monday in October.
In 2018, families will enjoy Turkey, football and companionship on October 8.