For a history of the building and the many stores and people that have called it home, including local boxer Frankie Battaglia, visit my blog post about 690 Ellice Avenue.
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Farewell, Gelyn’s Wedding Lounge
For a history of the building and the many stores and people that have called it home, including local boxer Frankie Battaglia, visit my blog post about 690 Ellice Avenue.
Saturday, 21 December 2024
Winnipeg's civic Christmas tree tradition dates back 99 years
© 2024, Christian Cassidy
Lighting a civic Christmas tree at Winnipeg's city hall is a tradition that dates back 99 years to a much darker time in history. Here's a look back at how it began.
December 22, 1915, Winnipeg Tribune.
On Tuesday, December 21, 1915, at 7:30 p.m., Mayor Richard Waugh lit Winnipeg's first official civic Christmas tree. It was described in one newspaper article as a 69-foot fir (another article pegged it at closer to 50 feet) with 1,000 to 2,000 red, white, and green lights and decorated with little flags of the allied nations. The Free Press wrote that it would "Stand with majestic stateliness in supreme command of the entrance to the city hall."
The tree was a fundraiser for the Returned Soldiers' Association of Winnipeg, an organisation created six months earlier with the help of Waugh who acted as its first chair.
The Returned Soldiers' Association's first mandate was to look after soldiers who had returned from the war, which in the early years were mostly the injured.
Volunteers met every train carrying soldiers that arrived in the city to provide greetings, tea, and sandwiches, even for those who were continuing further west. (This is a job that Harriet Waugh, the mayor's wife, took very seriously as she attended many of these arrivals at all hours of the day and night.) For those who got off at Winnipeg, automobile rides were arranged to bring them home or temporary lodging was found for those who had no family here and had to start all over.
The organisation also worked with clinics and hospitals to ensure that those who were invalided had companionship and could go on organised patient outings, such as theatre nights or sports days. Over time, it began offering skills training and used its network to find employment opportunities for them.
The second mandate of the organisation was to look after those left behind; the wives and children of the living and the widows and orphans of the dead. Throughout the year they were treated to activities such as theatre outings and picnics, and, if required, extra groceries and other necessities such as coal or wood would be provided.
Christmas was an especially tough time for those left on the home front, particularly the children. As Waugh said at the tree lighting, "Many kiddies will miss their daddies this Christmas and we are going to make them as happy as is possible under the circumstances."
Undated postcard of civic Christmas tree (City of Winnipeg Archives)
By late Christmas Eve, $959 (around $25,500 in today's money) had been collected. This exceeded the expectations of the organisers as they knew wartime household budgets were tight and they were competing against many better-known charities for funds at that time of year.
The money meant that seven tons of food was purchased and delivered to families on Christmas Eve by volunteer drivers. Each hamper included a bag of flour, a bag of sugar, a bag of oatmeal, a roast of beef, several pounds of sausages, fruits, vegetables, and other grocery items plus some small toys for the children.
In the first run of the day, 109 hampers were delivered. A second, smaller run had to be arranged as drivers were told of other families in need while on their rounds.
December 20, 1915, Winnipeg Tribune
The Women's Volunteer Reserve was hosting a Santa Claus party at the CPR's Royal Alexandra Hotel on Main Street at Higgins Avenue on the Saturday evening before the city hall event. When organisers showed up that morning to decorate the ballroom, the Christmas tree they ordered had not arrived.
The women asked around about the missing tree and were informed that there was an extremely large fir lying behind the Industrial Bureau building, which was located near present-day Main Street and Graham Avenue about a mile south of the hotel. A group went to investigate, found no one on duty, and concluded that it must be their tree.
They commandeered several men and a wagon off the street and together they pushed, pulled, and dragged the tree up Main Street causing traffic jams as they went.
When the party arrived at the hotel, they realised just how big the tree was. It was too long and wide to fit through the front doors. An axe was obtained but before the tree could be cut down to size, officials caught up with them and demanded that the tree be brought back down Main Street to city hall.
Tree on display circa 1929, (commercial postcard image)
The first civic Christmas tree was such a success that in 1916 it was erected ten days earlier on Monday, December 11th and the gathering space around the tree was improved to attract bigger crowds.
The main tree was a little smaller, only 40 feet in height, but it was flanked by two smaller trees and the entire city hall square was lit up with decorations. A canopy was built for the musicians and speakers and Boy Scouts manned the coin box.
The tree lighting ceremony was again led by Mayor Waugh but this time it was also attended by a large gathering of soldiers who did a march past in front of Premier Bracken at Portage and Main.
The fund was more popular than ever. Rather than relying on individual donations, many organisations got involved by donating proceeds from plays, movie showings, concerts, bonspiels, hockey games, raffles, dinners, and teas. By the time the tree was lit, there was already $6,000 raised, around $146,000 in today's money.
The additional money was greatly needed as by Christmas 1916, some 2,500 soldiers had returned from the war and thousands of others were overseas. The additional time allowed for a better coordinated distribution of food and the addition of more toys, some of them made by returned soldiers themselves in special toy workshops.
The main tree was a little smaller, only 40 feet in height, but it was flanked by two smaller trees and the entire city hall square was lit up with decorations. A canopy was built for the musicians and speakers and Boy Scouts manned the coin box.
The tree lighting ceremony was again led by Mayor Waugh but this time it was also attended by a large gathering of soldiers who did a march past in front of Premier Bracken at Portage and Main.
December 9, 1916, Winnipeg Tribune
The fund was more popular than ever. Rather than relying on individual donations, many organisations got involved by donating proceeds from plays, movie showings, concerts, bonspiels, hockey games, raffles, dinners, and teas. By the time the tree was lit, there was already $6,000 raised, around $146,000 in today's money.
The additional money was greatly needed as by Christmas 1916, some 2,500 soldiers had returned from the war and thousands of others were overseas. The additional time allowed for a better coordinated distribution of food and the addition of more toys, some of them made by returned soldiers themselves in special toy workshops.
Circa 1950, City of Winnipeg Archives
The civic Christmas tree tradition lasted until Christmas 1918. By then, the war was over and 8,112 soldiers had returned to the city. Other funds, such as the Christmas Cheer Fund, had grown in size and scope to provide hampers to struggling households and other soldiers' charities and associations took over hosting of Christmas events for families.
The tree was brought back in 1928 by Mayor Daniel McLean and appears to have carried on through the Depression and Second World War until around 1950. Newspaper stories do not mention any fundraising component to these later trees, but the city hall square was decorated and choirs and bands performed.
The tree was brought back in 1928 by Mayor Daniel McLean and appears to have carried on through the Depression and Second World War until around 1950. Newspaper stories do not mention any fundraising component to these later trees, but the city hall square was decorated and choirs and bands performed.
Civic Christmas tree in new city hall courtyard, 1967 (City of Winnipeg Archives)
Newspaper mentions of a civic Christmas tree disappeared again in 1951, but in 1957 Mayor Stephen Juba combined the lighting of a tree with the lighting of the new downtown Christmas lights.
There was no tree in 1962 and 1963 due to the construction of the current city hall, but it returned in 1964 with the tree originally located inside the new city hall's courtyard and has been an annual event to this day.
A major change to the tradition came in 2019 when the city switched from a natural tree, usually donated by a homeowner who needed it removed from their property, to an artificial one. It originally stood at 28 feet tall but in 2021 the additional bands were added to bring it to the 50-foot mark.
The new tree cost $175,000 and is expected to last for 40 years. It includes more than 8,000 decorations and 64,000 lights.
My related posts and columns:
Downtown's Christmas Lights of 1929 West End Dumplings
Christmas lights display dates back nearly a century Free Press Community Review
Holiday entertaining with the Tribune's Kay Middleton West End Dumplings
Monday, 9 December 2024
The 2024 Christmas Gift Guide
Books are a must for any history buff. Here is a list of some great local history titles and those with a "***" are new for 2024. Also see the list of 2021, 2022, and 2023 Margaret McWilliams Awards nominees for more regional titles.
Please support local and independent bookstores!
Locally, we have McNally Robinson and the book shops at a number of museums and galleries. There are also some bricks and mortar chain stores still around, such as Indigo. At used book stores, such as Bison Books and Burton Lysecki, you will find gently used and out-of-print local history titles.
*** Winnipeg 150: Stories Our Buildings Tell was published by Heritage Winnipeg to celebrate Winnipeg's 150th anniversary. It showcases 150 of Winnipeg's most architecturally significant buildings with original artwork by artist Robert Sweeney. (McNally, Indigo, Heritage Winnipeg)
*** Winnipeg Places + Spaces is the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation's new comprehensive guidebook to the buildings and landscapes in a variety of neighbourhoods around our city. (WAF Shop)
***mmm...Manitoba: the Stories Behind The Food We Eat tells the story of many Manitoba delicacies and how they became restaurant and dining room table staples.(McNally, Indigo)
Henry Kalen was one of Canada’s most distinguished architectural photographers. His work for prominent Winnipeg architectural firms in the 1960s and 1970s portrayed a stylish, modern, and changing city. This 145-page book captures some of Winnipeg's most iconic mid-century architecture. (McNally, WAF Giftshop)
***In Lloyd Axworthy, My Life in Politics, one of Winnipeg's best-known public representatives tells of his journey from local schoolboy to the international political stage. (McNally, Indigo)
On the Road to Abandoned Manitoba is the third instalment of this series by Gordon Goldsborough, which is also a CBC radio segment. More unusual and overlooked historical people, places and objects from Manitoba's history. Also see series one and series two. (Publisher's store, Chapters, McNally)
Max Blankstein, Architect was the first Jewish architect registered in Canada and designed at least 200 buildings. Many of his theatres, apartments and commercial blocks are still around today. (Winnipeg Architecture Foundation, McNally)
Falcons Forever The Saga of the 1920 Olympic Gold Medal Ice Hockey Team. Written by a granddaughter of Falcons’ defenseman Konrad “Konnie” Johannesson, this book chronicles the Winnipeg Falcons’ journey to the VII Olympiad in Antwerp, Belgium. For video of the book launch. (Friesen Press, McNally Robinson)
Did You See Us? Reunion, Remembrance, and Reclamation at an Urban Indian Residential School The Assiniboia Indian Residential School in suburban Winnipeg was was one of the few such institutions to be located in a large urban setting and operated from 1958 to 1973. These are the stories of many survivors of the school. (McNally)
Thinking Big: A History of the Winnipeg Business Community to the Second World War is, sadly, Jim Blanchard's last book about the history of Winnipeg as the prolific author died in September 2022. Thinking Big examines the history of Winnipeg’s business development through profiles of Manitoba industries and personalities, dating from the days of the HBC to more modern enterprises. For other Blanchard titles. (Great Plains, McNally)
Ghost Signs: An Exchange District Walking Tour tells the story behind the mostly long-forgotten companies or products that these signs advertised. Check out the accompanying website. (WAF Shop, McNally Robinson)
Mosienko: The Man Who Caught Lightning in a Bottle tells the story of a Manitoba legend, from his childhood spent skating on the rinks of Winnipeg's North End in the 1920s and 30s to his illustrious fourteen-year NHL career to his return to Winnipeg to play with the Winnipeg Warriors to his post-retirement career as the owner of the iconic Mosienko Bowling Lanes. See video of the book launch here. (Great Plains Publications, McNally Robinson, Chapters)
Heart of Gold: A History of Winnipeg Music is the latest release by music historian John Einarson. It looks at the background of all genres of the music scene in Winnipeg and their influence nationally and beyond. See an interview with the author here. (Order online)
Fire, Folly and Fiasco Why It Took 100 Years to Build the Manitoba Museum explores the century-long journey to open the Manitoba Museum. (Woolly Mammoth Publishing, McNally Robinson)
The Lesser Known: A History of Oddities from the Heart of the Continent by Darren Bernhardt explores some of the lesser known aspects of Manitoba's history. (Great Plains, McNally Robinson, Chapters)
Coming of Age: A History of the Jewish People of Manitoba This nearly 500-page book tells the story of the small but influential Jewish community of Winnipeg. (McNally, Jewish Heritage Centre)
Rooster Town is the story of the life and death of this largely Metis community that stood near where the Grant Park Shopping Centre is now. Companion pieces about the research that went into this book can be found here and here. (U of M Press, McNally, Indigo)
Memories of the Moonlight Special and Grand Beach Train Era takes you back to the firsts half of the 20th century when trains brought eager tourists to these resort beach communities. (Borealis Press, McNally, Indigo)
In Snacks: A Canadian Food History Janis Thiessen tells the back story of Canadian party favourites such as Old Dutch Potato Chips, Hawkins Cheezies and Ganong chocolates. (U of M Press, McNally Robinson, Indigo)
Jeffrey Thorsteinson (architectural historian) and Brennan Smith (art historian) team up in Green Blankstein Russell and Associates: An Architectural Legacy. This local company went on to become one of Canada's preeminent modernist architecture firms of the 1950s and 60s. (WAF shop, McNally, Chapters)
You can never go wrong with Winnie the Pooh! here's the latest book written about the real-life bear! (McNally) Also, check out this review in The Guardian.
More Winnie in Winnie the Bear. Read more about the book at the accompanying website. (McNally)
Brian Darragh, one of Winnipeg's last streetcar operators, put together this look back at our forgotten streetcar heritage. Check out the accompanying website. (Friesen's, Heritage Winnipeg)
The Patriotic Consensus Unity, Morale, and the Second World War in Winnipeg by Dr. Jody Perrun takes a look at what it was like in Winnipeg while World War II raged overseas. Hear my interview with the author. (McNally, U of M Press)
Prairie History is the quarterly journal of the Manitoba Historical Society replacing the journal Manitoba History in 2020. Copies can be purchased at McNally Robinson or get it free with your membership in the MHS. For back issues, contact the MHS office.
CLOTHING and TEXTILES
It's Winnipeg's 150th birthday and the Forks Trading Company has a selection of official Winnipeg150 merchandise, including t-shirts, hoodies, toques, totas and mugs!
It's Winnipeg. It's winter. It's gonna get cold. Who wouldn't want an HBC blanket?
Keeping it Riel t-shirts are back at the St. Boniface Museum Boutique, Manitoba Museum Gift Shop, and Lower Fort Garry Gift Shop.
GIFT SHOPS
Many museums have their own shops where you're sure to find something unique. You should contact the museums first to check out their winter hours.
Here are links to some of them: St. Boniface Museum - Manitoba Museum - Daly House (Brandon) - Mennonite Heritage Village (Steinbach) - Transcona Museum - New Iceland Heritage Museum (Gimli) - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (Brandon) - Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (Morden)
Here are links to some of them: St. Boniface Museum - Manitoba Museum - Daly House (Brandon) - Mennonite Heritage Village (Steinbach) - Transcona Museum - New Iceland Heritage Museum (Gimli) - British Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum (Brandon) - Canadian Fossil Discovery Centre (Morden)
Besides their book collection, the Winnipeg Architecture Foundation has a wide selection of merchandise featuring iconic Winnipeg buildings, such as pins, fridge magnets, mugs, and new this year are holiday greeting cards. Available for delivery or at their NEW location at 177 Lombard Street.
The St. Boniface Museum Boutique has a wide range of items, including Metis flags, mugs, voyageur sashes, toques, and replica Red River carts. Yes, Keeping it Riel t-shirts are back!
The Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada's new Landing Zone Boutique has clothing, toys, models, books and more that celebrate our aviation heritage.
POSTERS AND PRINTS
Heritage Winnipeg's online store that includes a collection of prints by Robert J. Sweeney.
ET CETERA
How about a stay in one of the city's oldest hotels? The Hotel Fort Garry still oozes the charm of early 20th century railway hotels and offers packages. It's pet friendly, too ! Dress up old school and make a weekend of it.
Do you want to own a piece of Winnipeg's history? Heritage Winnipeg has select building shards for sale at their website!
MEMBERSHIPS
I fall else fails, remember that most museums and heritage groups run on shoestring budgets. Many have not recovered their membership and visitor numbers since COVID-related closures. Why not buy someone a membership or make a donation on their behalf.
You can find a complete list of Manitoba museums here. Some deserving groups:
There are several active restoration projects taking place around the province. (If you know of others, let me know!)
- Winnipeg Streetcar 356 Restoration Project
- Rivers Train Station Restoration Project
- Manitoba Agricultural Museum Forestry Rail Car Restoration
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