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Canada 1945-1967: Post-War, Suburbia, Baby Boom

Explore major Canadian events (1945-1967) including veterans returning home, rise of suburbia, baby boom, automobile age, and cultural shifts in a changing society. The era saw economic prosperity, social transformations, and a growing influence of American culture.

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Canada 1945-1967: Post-War, Suburbia, Baby Boom

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  1. Major Canadian Events 1945-1967 S. Todd

  2. Coming Home • After WWII, nearly 1 million veterans came home to Canada • To ease the transition back into society, the Canadian government passed special legislation that allowed them to have their old jobs back • Veterans and war widows were given hiring preference and given free university/trade education tuition

  3. Coming Home • 1 in 5 veterans returned home with a war bride and sometimes children • Canada also accepted 165 000 immigrants but King claimed he had the right to only admit “desirable future citizens” • Discriminated against Italians, Greeks, Portuguese, and Jews

  4. Suburbia • Post-WWII was an exciting time for many Canadians who were able to move to a new and bigger home and a better lifestyle • Long term mortgages became available • Land was cheaper on the outskirts of cities so homes went up in the countryside -think “American dream”

  5. Suburbia • After WWI, the Great Depression, and WWII, Canadians wanted a normal family life with material possessions • Cities began to run out of space, so cities began growing “up” (i.e. high rises) • Suburbs focused on traditional values such as a stay-at-home mother • Women, who made up one third of the workforce during the war, were let go to create jobs for returning vets

  6. Suburbia • Magazines said working mothers were the cause of “delinquent children” • Fashion: long, full, skirts, narrow waists, high heels, red lips and cheeks • Many women felt isolated in the suburbs and wanted to develop to full potential • By mid-sixties, many were looking for a different way of life

  7. The Age of the Automobile • Father was the breadwinner • In the 1950s, Canadians fell in love with the automobile (3.5 million of them were sold!) • Cars were longer and fancier with chrome, fins, and fancy tail lights

  8. The Age of the Automobile • Downtown traffic jams became a reality • Caused the birth of drive-in restaurants, drive-in theatres, tourism, and major highways • Represented progress, technology, security, and freedom

  9. The Baby Boom • Refers to the increase in birth rate in the postwar period • During the Depression and war, people put off having families • After the war, a booming economy and government family allowances made it possible to start/expand families • Marriage rate increased and people married younger

  10. The Baby Boom • 1959: Canada’s birth rate was highest in the world! • 6.7 million Canadian children born between 1946 and 1961! • People born around 1947 to 1966 are considered “Baby Boomers” • Baby boom echo: society “feels” baby boomers moving through life stages

  11. The Baby Boom • Because baby boomers were the first generation to spend longer in school, they had more leisure time and money to spend • The term “teenager” was coined • Penny loafers, poodle skirts, cardigans, crinolines, hula hoops…

  12. The Baby Boom • Youth rebellion was especially evident in rock ‘n’ roll • When Elvis Presley swiveled his hips, adults were outraged and banned camera shots below the waist! • Together with new music came the Monster Mash, the Twist, the Mashed Potato

  13. Elvis Presley Jailhouse Rock YouTube link: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=jailhouse+rock&FORM=VIRE7#view=detail&mid=784ADC869CE638035B79784ADC869CE638035B79

  14. The Culture and Character of the Era • Teens brought a new type of culture to Canada; a style of behaviour that defined them as a group • This was coined “pop culture” • Consumerism was on the rise - again Eg. ball point pens, photocopiers, Polaroid cameras, cake mixes, typewriters, Kleenex

  15. The Culture and Character of the Era • Canadians were very conservative at this time – in 1948 women could be fined for wearing shorts! • From 1945-1967, the Leafs and Canadiens each won nine Stanley Cups • Aside from sports, most heroes and heroines were not “homegrown” • People became fascinated with Hollywood (Elizabeth Taylor, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe)

  16. Culture and Government • A special body called the Massey Commission was appointed in 1949 to investigate the state of Canadian culture • It denounced pop culture as an “American Evil” • Massey recommended that Canada concentrate on developing a culture that was protected from American influence

  17. Culture and Government • Federal government spent a lot of money trying to create a valuable Canadian culture (Stratford Festival Theatre, National Ballet, National Film Board) • Also advised that television be used for national communication rather than entertainment • 1960: 90% of Canadian homes had TV

  18. The Television Revolution • TV had as much of an impact on Canadian society as the automobile had • Families began to spend more time together in front of the TV but less time talking • TV dinners were eaten off TV tables • Canadians were primarily watching American TV programs like Lassie, Howdy Doodie, the Mickey Mouse Club, and I Love Lucy

  19. 1950s TV Shows • I Love Lucy (under AA TV Shows, 1951) • Leave it to Beaver (under AA TV Shows, 1957)

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