..the man (i.e. European) who discovered modern day Canada.

I don't think he ever went as far as the US.

Interesting, I did not know that. :)

Presidential Proclamation:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Presidential-Proclamation-Leif-Erikson-Day/

C-456 An Act to establish Leif Erickson Day:

http://www2.parl.gc.ca/Sites/LOP/LEGISINFO/index.asp?Language=E&query=5927&List=toc&Session=22

Peter Julian, MP (Burnaby-New Westminster) and NDP International Trade Critic, today [Wed 7 Oct 2009] tabled a Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons, Bill C-456, An Act to establish Leif Erikson Day, which would designate the 9th of October of each year as “Leif Erikson Day”.

http://peterjulian.ndp.ca/node/851

I've found through many of my US friends, that they have holidays just for the sake of holidays. :p
Countless times I'd mention that it was a holiday (which I thought was only in Canada), and they'd have some other day to match. Don't remember the instances offhand, but.. we'd have Victoria day, and they'd have Memorial day (is Remembrance/Veteran's day not the same thing?)

Now I guess we're on the other side of this anecdote :p

He sailed down the coast of labrador and start a temporary settlement on the northern tip on Newfounland

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L%27Anse_aux_Meadows

Countless times I'd mention that it was a holiday (which I thought was only in Canada), and they'd have some other day to match.
You mean Columbus Day which is tomorrow?

I've found through many of my US friends, that they have holidays just for the sake of holidays. :p
Countless times I'd mention that it was a holiday (which I thought was only in Canada), and they'd have some other day to match. Don't remember the instances offhand, but.. we'd have Victoria day, and they'd have Memorial day (is Remembrance/Veteran's day not the same thing?)

Now I guess we're on the other side of this anecdote :p
I think that Memorial Day, in the United States, superceded the first and second World Wars and was proclaimed, after the U.S. Civil War, which ended during the third week of May, 1865.

Ahh, makes sense then.
But Columbus and Thanksgiving seem a little too related to me for them to be two separate holidays.. One's about "discovering" the new world and the other's about coming to it, no?

Our thanksgiving is completely unrelated. It's about harvest time and such, that's why it's in Oct.

On the topic of LE day, I don't think it would go over very well. At least as a day off (2 in the same week?). It would be a regular named day, though.. right?

Well Columbus Day was proclaimed in 1934 and the Canadian Thanksgiving in 1957, so we can see who copied who (doesn't surprise anyone I'm sure).

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/10/08/presidential-proclamation-leif-erikson-day

One's about "discovering" the new world and the other's about coming to it, no?

No, Our Thanksgiving in November is also about being thankful for what you have, Harvest, Family, etc.
Same thing, only in November.
Happy Thanksgiving BTW.

I don't think he ever went as far as the US.

I thought the Vikings got all the way to Minnesota. ;-)

Because Americans like to make special days for everybody and everything.