Women of Canada! - Women Celebrating the Armistice, 1918
While the signing of the armistice and accompanying celebration happened in Europe, the news ignited celebrations around the globe. In Winnipeg, the situation was no different. As can be seen in photo 1, photo 2, and photo 3 above (all from the Archives of Manitoba), the streets of Winnipeg were filled with people and cars celebrating the victory and the return to peace.
Published in 1974, Anna Tillenius’ book Learned Friends Reminiscences Pitblado & Hoskin 1882-1974 contains a story of Winnipeg’s experience of 11 November 1918, as told through the eyes of a Miss Taylor, who was employed at the Pitblado & Hoskin law firm. The reminiscence tells of a day filled with excitement and distractions. Regarding the scene in Winnipeg’s downtown, we read,
Eaton’s, Robinson’s, Hudson’s Bay, and all the little shops and stores were closed for the day; and their respective employees filled the streets, carrying flags, blowing horns, and generally carrying on in a most undignified manner. Early in the morning the bagpipes appeared on the scene, and war-like strains sounded, while crowds followed the piper. Bugles and fifes, drums and tambourines combined in the general pandemonium.
And then later in the letter,
Eaton’s decorations were easily the best; every window had a flag hanging out, and the front of the store was draped from one end to the other with bunting. In the centre of the store front was a huge yellow and white shield showing King George on horseback in full regalia. On either side of him were: Albert, King of the Belgians, General Foch, Admiral Beatty, and Generals Haig, French, and Pershing. Wood Valiance Company had a big truck crowded with their people, and they had a jazz band…
We also get a sense of the experience of the women at work that day. The author states, “When twelve o’clock came, we weren’t sensible human beings any longer. We let caution and dignity fly to the winds, as we raced madly down to the library where we could get a splendid view of the excitement below.” She also writes, following a description of some dictation she copied down, “After all my years of office experience, when I began to transcribe my notes, I found I couldn’t read them.” It’s also noted that, “At ten minutes to one, we made a mad dash for the elevator… Tirelessly we went up and down Portage and Main yelling at our friends and acting generally as though we’d taken leave of our senses.”
The whole piece provides further details from the announcement of the armistice at 2 AM on the 11th of November through until the next evening. The events in the city as well as the varied emotions experienced on that day are shared in detail, and the piece shared by the Manitoba Historical Society is worth reading in full.
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