Today is the official 75th Anniversary of the end of WW2 in Europe (May 8th, 1945). So in honour of this very important day, I thought I would share photos from the celebrations that happened in Canada (and Canadians in Europe). Let the Party Begin!
Source: Canadian Encyclopedia via Memory Project
Canada Celebrates V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day) May 8th, 1945
The Vintage Photos
The Toronto V-E Day Celebrations
Among the first Canadians to celebrate were the sailors on naval and merchant ships on the Atlantic, and soldiers and airmen based in Europe. Their long ordeal would soon be coming to an end, although many would still be tasked with providing security to occupied Germany, and bringing aid to the Netherlands, where the Dutch were desperate for emergency food and medical supplies distributed by Canadian forces. Across the Netherlands, Canadians were cheered and welcomed as heroes.
Check out this BRAND NEW Heritage Minute that showcases the Liberation of Netherlands (Video Clip).
At home in Canada, massive crowds filled city streets. There were parades, band concerts, tickertape dropped from the sky by aircraft, and spontaneous singing, dancing and exuberance. Offices, stores and some factories closed for the day, while other factories remained open, churning out war material for the ongoing battles in the Pacific.
Canadian students also left their classrooms to take part in the festivities, or to attend special religious services of thanksgiving. In towns and cities and rural villages there were prayers and tears of relief, as well as music, happy shouting and, for the most part, good-natured partying.
“The silencing of the guns in Europe,” said The Globe and Mail, “brought release from bondage of the spirit.” (Source).
In Toronto (my adopted Home town), the city organized concerts, parades, religious services, and fireworks in the parks (Source).
Source: Toronto Archives
V-E Day celebrations on Bay Street in Toronto May 7, 1945.
Source: Toronto Archives
Women walking arm-in-arm down Bay Street on V-E Day. Fantastic 1940s Fashions!
Source: Toronto Archives
P.C. Harry Carroll at V-E Day celebrations, looking north on Bay Street towards Queen Street, May 8, 1945.
Source: Toronto Archives
Children celebrating V-E Day on May 8, 1945 in Toronto.
Source: Toronto Archives
Victory in Europe Day (VE-Day) celebrations, Toronto, Ontario, May 1945.
Source: Flickr
For more photos please visit the city of Toronto Website dedicated to this special day HERE.
Other Canadian Cities Celebrations
Crowd celebrating VE-Day, Montréal, Quebec, May 8, 1945.
Source: Flickr
The Halifax VE–Day riots, 7–8 May 1945 in Halifax and Dartmouth, Nova Scotia began as a celebration of the World War II Victory in Europe. This rapidly evolved into a rampage by several thousand servicemen, merchant seamen and civilians, who looted the City of Halifax.
Raucous crowds on Barrington Street in Nova Scotia celebrate the end of the war. Tip Top Tailors in the background is a men’s store that still exists today .
Source: CBC.ca
Crowd at the Victory Loan Indicator, Confederation Square, on VE-Day, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada’s Capital for those not in the know).
Source: Flickr
Vancouver Celebrates V-E Day.
Source: Daily Hive
The After Party from the above Vancouver Celebrations.
Source: Daily Hive
I LOVE this Photo! A group at SHAEF Headquarters reading the special VE-Day edition of the Maple Leaf newspaper, Paris, France, May 11, 1945.
Source: Flickr
Canadian Women’s Army Corps, World War 2, celebrating VE Day in London on May 7th 1945.
Source: Flickr
Canadian soldiers celebrating VE-Day, Piccadilly Circus, London, England, May 8, 1945.
Source: Flickr
I hope you enjoyed my post on Canadian Celebrations near and far. It was a great post to put together for my reader. I also want to thank you to all our veterans, men and woman who served during WW2 that helped make V-E Day possible. Your sacrifices will never be forgotten.
Lastly, for fantastic reading on Canadians during WW2 please check out my friend Elinor Florence’s Blog, ‘Wartime Wednesday‘. Her interviews with veterans are fascinating and worth a moment (or two) of your time.
Have a nice weekend friends!
Further Reading:
Liz