10/10/2026
With Thanksgiving weekend here, I’ve been thinking about how much I have to be thankful for.
I’m thankful for Alberta. I’m thankful for the opportunities this province has given me, and especially for the generations of people who came before us and helped build the Alberta we enjoy today.
I’m a fifth-generation Albertan. In 1903, my great-grandfather and his brother, John and Lloyd Stonehocker, moved from Dakota to land near Vegreville purchased in 1902. They farmed and raised cattle. The colourized photo below shows them hunting moose.
I’m proud of that history. But none of us built Alberta alone.
So what actually made Alberta great?
We hear about “real Albertans,” “Alberta values,” and the “good old days.” But have we forgotten what made those days worth remembering?
It wasn’t everyone sharing the same religion, background, or politics. It was opportunity: to work hard, help neighbours, raise a family, start a business, and build a better life.
Indigenous peoples lived here long before Alberta became a province. Newcomers from across Canada and the world brought skills, cultures, and dreams, helping build our communities.
Our history wasn’t perfect. Not everyone was treated equally. We should learn from our past, not repeat its mistakes.
There’s nothing wrong with faith, tradition, or pride in your heritage. But wearing a cross doesn’t give someone ownership of morality. Waving a flag doesn’t make someone more loyal than their neighbour.
Hard work. Honesty. Fairness. Compassion. Opportunity. Looking out for your neighbours.
If we’re going to bring back the good old days, shouldn’t we start with the best of those values?
Because Alberta wasn’t built by one kind of person, and its future doesn’t belong to one kind of person either.
This Thanksgiving, I’m grateful for the generations who worked, sacrificed, welcomed, and built something bigger than themselves.
We inherited the benefits of their hard work.
The greatest way we can honour them isn’t simply to celebrate what they built. It’s to make sure we’re still building an Alberta future generations will be thankful to inherit.
Happy Thanksgiving, Alberta. 🍁
