Last weekend the hubby and I along with our friend went for a walk in Mississauga, Ontario (just outside of Toronto) to stretch our legs. We headed towards the waterfront for a change of scenary and ended up at a location called the “Sawmills”. We parked in the parking lot and got ready to follow the trails. Just a normal day. Then I happened to look to my right to the building that was on the other side of the parking lot and I saw this…..
My instant reaction was, “OMG why is there women from the 1940s in factory uniforms on the side of that building?”! “How exciting!!”.
I needed to know more, so off I ran to see if there was a plaque. No plaque but there is the internet! So we Googled where we were and this is what I found….
Canada’s WW2 Home Front Effort: The Small Arms Inspection Building
HISTORY of the Small Arms Inspection Building
The Small Arms Inspection Building is located on the 15.7 hectare parcel of land known as the Arsenal Lands on the eastern border of Mississauga’s waterfront. In 1940, the site became a large munitions plant manufacturing rifles and small arms for the Canadian Army through the Second World War until 1974. Small Arms Limited recruited and supported a significant number of women, who made up about two-thirds of the factory’s workforce. This was critical to changing the role of women and recognizing their significance to the workforce in Canada.
In 1992, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) acquired the Arsenal Lands and the Small Arms Inspection Building. In 2008, the City of Mississauga intervened as the building was scheduled for demolition and designated the building under the Ontario Heritage Act in 2009. The City of Mississauga acquired the building in 2017 with the intention of repurposing it as an arts and culture hub (which it is today). (SOURCE).
The images on the side of the building if you had not already figured it out, were women who worked at the factory and helped with the war effort. Love this!!
Vintage Photos of the Women of The Small Arms Building
There is not much info beyond what I stated above, but we do have some lovely photos of some of the women working at this building. Let’s take a look.
Source: Look Local Magazine
Notice the unforms. The hats kept the hair back and away from the machines, and the overalls while practical had a little style with the puffed sleeve. Cute for working in a factory.
Source: Small Arms Building
Source: Look Local Magazine
Source: Toronto.com
Source: Look Local Magazine
A narrator in a Canadian Army Newsreel about women workers said…
“When victory is won, a great share of the credit will be due to our fair Amazons in overalls.”
In this short video, you’ll meet five people who worked at the Small Arms during the Second World War making ammunition and firearms for our troops overseas. The story is told from the perspective of a woman and man looking back on their time working at the Small Arms in the 1940s.
I hoped you enjoyed learning a bit about one of the roles of women on the homefront in Canada during WW2. I know I enjoyed it immensly seeing their photos and watching the video above.
For other posts I have done on women on the homefront during the 1940s check them out below (It is Women’s History Month):
Thanks for stopping by!
Liz