Toronto 1940s

Toronto of the 1940s

Toronto of the 1940s was place defined by war and its aftermath. Many of these images reveal the effort taking place at home and overseas, whether it be people shopping with ration coupons, the co-mingling of propaganda and advertising or new housing projects built to accommodate soldiers returning home from Europe.

Although not a period that saw sweeping changes on the skyline, along with the war effort, the 1940s is likely best known for the waves of immigration that got underway during the latter part of the decade.

Toronto saw the arrival of massive numbers of people from throughout Eastern and Southern Europe, which lead to a profound shift in the city's cultural makeup.

Needless to say, the diversification of the population kept up, and multiculturalism has become the hallmark of contemporary Toronto.

Here's how it all looked. 

1940

Toronto 1940s

Sunnyside Pool and Beach

Toronto 1940s

Fruit and Vegetable Stand

Toronto 1940s

Entrance to the QEW

1941

Toronto 1940s

CN Telegraph Office

Toronto 1940s

Aerial View of Old City Hall

1942

Toronto 1940s

Miss Worker Beauty Contest

Toronto 1940s

Maple Leafs vs. Red Wings

Toronto 1940s

Christie's Crackers Ad

1943

Toronto 1940s

Duchess Street

Toronto 1940s

Union Station

Toronto 1940s

Eaton's

Toronto 1940s

War Savings Stamps

1944

Toronto 1940s

Island Airport

Toronto 1940s

Milkman on the Toronto Islands

1945

Toronto 1940s

Imperial Bank of Canada Building

Toronto 1940s

Jolly Miller Tavern

Toronto 1940s

Scholes Hotel

Toronto 1940s

Broadview Hotel

Toronto 1940s

Winston Park Blvd.

Toronto 1940s

VE-Day

Toronto 1940s

VE-Day

1946

Toronto 1940s

Adelaide near Yonge

1947

Toronto 1940s

Toronto Road Map

Toronto 1940s

Parkdale Theatre

Toronto 1940s

Dominion Grocery Store

Toronto 1940s

The Eglinton Theatre

Toronto 1940s

The Eglinton Theatre Interior

1949

Toronto 1940s

Subway Construction Gets Underway on Yonge St.

Toronto 1940s

Subway Construction

Photos by

The Toronto Archives, Ontario Archives, and Wikimedia Commons. Written by Derek Flack. 


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