Black-and-white photo of five women in headscarves and factory uniforms seated at a table checking munitions.

ONLINE EXHIBIT: Hidden histories in the Archives: Ontario and the World Wars

Canadian Women

During the Second World War, Canadian women contributed to the war effort from the Home Front. They planted victory gardens, bought war bonds and sent items to soldiers overseas. Their shift to working outside of the home filled the gaps that the soldiers had left.

Shifting spheres

Before the World Wars, Canadian women were primarily expected to work in the home. Their responsibilities included cooking, cleaning, raising children and other domestic duties. These social norms had begun to shift with the rise of the women’s suffrage movement, which sought women’s right to vote. The movement grew in popularity from the 1870s to the early 1910s. In Ontario, it triumphed in 1917 when women were finally granted this right.

A black-and-white cartoon of two men running from a group of women chasing them while carrying various weapons. The caption reads: “Mayor Oliver — ‘Wonder who told them we didn’t encourage the suffragette movement in Toronto?’”

A colour poster advertising various household appliances with a caption at the top of the ad that reads “To make milady’s day more pleasurable.”

Women’s suffrage was discussed by various groups and political leaders. This speech was given by former Ontario premier William H. Hearst in the early 1910s. It highlights some of the opinions around the suffrage movement and women’s work.

Life on the Home Front

Canada’s participation in the World Wars was not only fought on the battlefield. The Home Front fundraised, produced arms, manufactured vehicles and recruited soldiers. The General Engineering Company of Canada (GECO) was located in Scarborough and operated from 1941-1945. This munitions plant produced millions of munitions during the Second World War. GECO was one of the many companies that hired women to do jobs that were typically held by men. For women, the shift from the private sphere to the public one changed the landscape of Canadian labour.

Black-and-white photo of a smiling woman bus driver in work uniform seated in the driver’s seat of a bus.

Black-and-white photo of women standing at workstations in a factory, welding components while wearing safety goggles, headscarves and factory uniforms.

Wartime recreation

Despite the changes the wars brought, recreation continued to be important. GECO (like other companies) had a dedicated sports and recreation club. This club organised various sporting events and company-wide dances. The company also ran a newsletter called the Fusilier, which provided workers with important updates about company activities and ways that employees could find moments of joy alongside work.

Black-and-white photo of four women cross-country skiing along a trail in a snowy forest.

Black-and-white cartoon printed on yellow paper, depicting various scenes of GECO employees discussing recreational activities.

Black-and-white photo of a large group of men and women dancing in pairs in a ballroom.

Beauty queens

GECO was not the only company engaged in wartime recreational activities. In 1942, the “Miss War Worker” contest was hosted in Toronto. This beauty pageant gathered contestants from military manufacturing plants across Canada, including GECO. Though no GECO employees were among the top winners, GECO worker Kathleen Russell won fourth place. Her success in the pageant earned her a spot on the front page of the Fusilier.

Black-and-white photo of a group of women in white uniforms. The woman in the centre is holding a sign that says, “Beauty no artist could paint!”

Black-and-white photo of six women in white factory uniforms and headscarves smiling and holding large bouquets of flowers.

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Black Canadians

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