Canadian Thanksgiving is a harvest festival that celebrates the good fortunes of the past year.

In the current years, the day of Thanksgiving has evolved and has become a day of reflection on colonialism and the effects it still has on Indigenous communities.

How to Observe Thanksgiving in the Workplace

• Thinking about Thanksgiving through a DEI lens: Acknowledge that Thanksgiving promotes the idea that Canada was “discovered” and that it was peacefully handed over to the European settlers. It is important to remember that Canadians are residing on stolen land and this day.

• Offer an alternative day off: Thanksgiving can be harmful to your Indigenous employees and Indigenous communities. In general, it can amplify feelings of hurt and anger and can feel like a celebration of colonization. We encourage you to offer your employees an alternative day off instead. You may also find our free guide on How to craft a Land Acknowledgment useful as well.

• Team Activity: Here is a great article on 10 ways to celebrate Thanksgiving at work including food, donations, and volunteer suggestions.

Communications Template for Thanksgiving in Canada

[Subject: Thanksgiving]

Hi everyone,

Happy Thanksgiving! This year, we are thinking about Thanksgiving not just as a time for family and friends.

We acknowledge that Thanksgiving promotes the idea that Canada was “discovered” and that it was peacefully handed over to the European settlers. It is important to remember that Canadians are residing on land that was taken from Indigenous peoples forcefully.

We encourage you to read this CBC article about how Thanksgiving's roots in Canada can be found in Indigenous cultures and food.

As we won’t see you on Monday, we hope you have a relaxing weekend filled with family and potentially some reflection from your reading.

Thank you for learning with us.

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