Armistice Day in Toronto – November 11, 1918 was a Day of Celebration

5 December 2022

1918 - Family reads the headlines on Armistice Day on November 11, 1918 — 1918 – Family reads the headlines on Armistice Day on November 11, 1918 (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 892)

Remembrance Day was once known as Armistice Day. At 11 am on November 11, 1918, the Allies and Germany signed an armistice after four years of war. It was an agreement to end the fighting of World War I, which was also known as the Great War.

News of the signed armistice reached Toronto by wire at 2:50 am on November 11. Toronto newspaper, The Mail and Empire (part of The Globe and Mail), reported that a man who lived on Parliament St had heard the news of the peace at 4 am. He went into the streets in his pyjamas to inform his neighbours of the information. He said, “Women appeared in the flimsiest of clothing, some covered only with a wrap or kimono, and forgot the cold in the heat of their enthusiasm.”

1918 - Celebrations on November 11, 1918 in downtown Toronto — 1918 – Celebrations on November 11, 1918, in downtown Toronto (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 888)

The Celebrations

Newspaper headlines read “Extra! Extra! Germans Accept the Allies’ Terms” and “VICTORY,” It was a day of great joy in Toronto. People celebrated that the 1,567 days of war were over by blowing horns and factory whistles, ringing church bells, singing, banging pots, clanging pan lids and playing musical instruments. Many marched towards downtown and Old City Hall. Shops selling the British flag were doing great business with people waving the Union Jack or draping themselves with it. The City’s transit system halted while factories, banks and the Stock Exchange closed for the day.

It just so happened that a Victory Loan Parade was planned for that day. Soldiers and tanks were in the parade, along with an air show. The day’s celebrations continued well into the night.

Those Who Served

Over 420,000 Canadians served overseas in the war. Of those, nearly 60,000 died or were missing, and up to 138,000 were injured. In Toronto, more than 2,500 women worked in the munition factories. They played a significant role in the City’s war effort.

In 1931, Armistice Day was renamed Remembrance Day. The solemn day is also commemorated by the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Poland and the United States.

2022 – The Colour of Courage installation by the Downtown Yonge BIA on display in the walkway between Yonge St and Granby St south of Carlton St

The Poppy

Poppies began growing thickly over the graves of fallen soldiers in the fields of Flanders, France. Before the battle, the countryside had been barren; however, the red flowers flourished once the fighting stopped.

In 1915, Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae of Guelph, Ontario, wrote In Flanders Fields after the death of a fellow soldier. The poppy officially became the symbol of remembrance in 1921.