Figure 1.-- Herev wevsee a little Toronto girl crelebrating in the hood of the family Ford with two pot lids mon has provided for banging. Notice big brothr hanging on at the right. Cnanafian naionality had not yet kicked in--see the British Union Jack rathrer than Canadian Dominionm flag. The Ford is also interesting. Canada played an outsized role in World War I, but manufacturing was not a major part of it. This would change by the time of World War II. By that time manufacuring was an imprtant part of the Canadian contribution--much of it was an adjunct to the nearby American automombile industry, just across the Detroit River. .

The guns on the Western Front fell silent at 11:00am on 11 November 1918. Given the time differemce, Canadians were almost all still asleep. In Toronto, Cnaada's largest and moist British oriented city, people awoke slowly to learn that the War had ended. Commercial radio did not yet exist but word spread slowly at first bynword of mouth. There were small groups, spontaneously gathering in the streets. Noirmal city sounds added to the clammor with mich greater intensity. Car horns sounded. Church bells rang. Factories at the time had whistles that went off when shifts changed. There were police and fire sitreens. But now all these sound went off togethr band continuin incesently. When all this went off, no one in Toranto did not know what had happened. LSoom there were subsdtantial crowds along with floats and marching bands as organized parades formed. The streets of Torontoi were soon filled with joyous men, women, and children waving flags, blowing horns and whistles. Boys banged on tun kuds and agarbage cans. Gun salutes and fly noverals all added to the excitement. The celebration continued all day — and into the night all across Toronto. The newspaper reported. "The city was awake for the full 24 hours. Awake and letting the world know it. There was almost enough noise for Berlin to hear the roar of triumph." [Toronto, p. 5.] Factories closed, shops were shuttered, and the trollies suspended services. This left the streets open to the crowds and parades. There were speeches, cheering, and singing. There were thanksgiving servicesin the churches, and bonfires at night. The vcelebrationn swung back abd forth between opatriotic and relgious. Rgere were similar celkebrations thriyughout Canada, somewht more restrained in Montreal and the rest of Quebec. French Canadins werte not as committ o the War as the Anglo popultion hich is interesting as the ware was in part about saving France. A year later Armistice Day was inaugurated throughout the British Empire (1919). During the 1920s, Canadians at first observed the date with only limited public demonstration. Events were mostly attended by veterans and their families. This occurred in chuches and the memorials that began to Canadians began to erect. This was remamed Rememnberance Day.

Sources

"Toronto Hails Peace in Delirium of Joy," Daily Star (November 12, 1918).

Created: 12:50 AM 3/8/2022
Last updated: 10:48 AM 3/9/2022