A new report from Dalhousie University finds the cost of your Thanksgiving dinner may gobble up more of your cash this holiday season. “Poultry is more in demand, poultry is more expensive, so is pork,” said Sylvain Charlebois, director of Dalhousie University’s Agri‑Food Analytics Lab. The report notes the cost of a Thanksgiving dinner for four people is up 10 percent from 2025, rising to $35.72 this year. Charlebois said the study’s prices are based on a 7-lb. whole turkey at $1.79/lb., and includes potatoes, carrots, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, cranberries, stuffing and gravy. He said high diesel costs and high beef prices shifted more consumers over to poultry as compared to last year. Certain produce like carrots and potatoes are also expected to be high. “Pick your poison, it’s probably going to be more expensive,” Charlebois told CTV News Tuesday. One Winnipeg store owner said there are deals to be found if you look around. “People are price shopping, everybody wants a good steak, everybody wants a good roast and they’re price shopping to make sure they get the biggest bang for their buck,” said Munther Zeid, owner of the Silver Heights Foodfare on Portage Avenue. If you want to talk turkey, Zeid said to go with fresh over frozen. He said they had to order poultry from Ontario this year because there wasn’t enough supply from local producers. As a result, they’ve lowered their margin and ate some of the cost for the customer. “We know what it costs to feed a family, so we’re doing our best to keep our costs down,” Zeid said. He’s not the only business trying to help people save money. A new low-cost grocery store, Chalmers Housing and Access to Resources and Meals (CHARM), opened Tuesday for business in Elmwood on Ottawa Avenue. “Everybody can shop with dignity and find those prices that are skyrocketing at the grocery stores a lot cheaper,” said Leilani Villarba, executive director of Chalmers Neighbourhood Renewal Corporation (CNRC). Staff from CNRC are taking feedback on what to carry and more items will be stocked in the coming weeks. Customers say they appreciate the helping hand. “Prices are just ridiculous now,” said Colleen Fenzl, who lives down the street from the store. “Especially with seniors we only get our government pension plan, we have Canada pension, old age pension, it doesn’t take you very far.” Fenzl said it was a timely opening for many looking to save ahead of the holiday weekend. CHARM is open Tuesday to Saturday in Elmwood and staff tell CTV News their hours will vary to start.
