Downtown Christmas Windows, 1960s, by Linda Boyko

From MemoryArchive

Who: Linda Boyko
What: Christmas Windows
When: Early 60s
Where: Downtown Toronto

As a child growing up in the late 50s and early 60s I waited with great anticipation for the unveiling of the Christmas windows in the Toronto Eaton’s and Simpson’s stores. Once the big day came my parents and I would go “downtown” to pick our favourites. Which window was the best, which had the prettiest doll, or biggest truck? Those windows fulfilled every child’s fantasy with the twirling dolls, nodding elves and snow covered scenes. Those windows are long gone, as are the stores that featured them, but the memories will live forever among those of us who were fortunate enough to have been children during that period.