Figure 1.--This unidentified Toronto boy in 1915 wears a heavy sailor style double-breasted overcoat with a rank sleeve badge. It looks rather like a pea jacket, but seems a little longer than the standard pea jacket. The collar seems to have back flap or is bery wide, but ir does it seem to be a sailor blouse because we see abutton where the dicky shouldbe. He loks to be about 6 years old. The 1915 dateis from the dealer. We are not sure if it is an estimate or an actual date on the back of the photograph.

Geography makes inclement weathger garments especially important. Canada along with the United tates (Alaska) Scandinavian countries and Russia are located in the most northerly reaches of the North American continent. Russia and Canada dominate the Arctic Ocean. As a result, winter meaning cold weather is a longer part of the year than anywhere else in the world. As in the other northely countries, the Canadian population is primarily in the south, which makes it comparable to northern Europe. But the population is located inland, giving it more of an continental climate which is colder than climate modified by oceanic influences. Winter is freezing cold throughout Cnada. The most moderate area is the British Colombia coast in the west. Not far from the coast, howevr, in the Rockies there is hevy snow fall. Winter in the Rockies is long and cold. The snow stays around in the higher altitudes well into Spring. The warm Chinook winds help to defrost the Continent. Eastern Canada, including the large cities of Toronto and Montreal, has a shorter, less fierce winter, but it is still cold with lots of snow. Here Canadians experiene mostly sub-zero temps and -20°C (-4°F) not uncommon. At least one or two snow storms falls of eight inches or more commonly fall (during January and February). As a result, inclement weather clothing is vital. As so much precipation falls as snow, this has to be taken in account. Warm coats are vital. There are of course many other cold weather garments. We see knitwear (including scarves and sweaters), leggings, long stockings, and snowboots. We see similar garmets in the northrn United States. There is a great deal of similarity, although the time line is often different. We notice knickers being worn longer in Canada than America.

Knitwear

Knitted garments for boys were popular in Canada. The climate is an important factor here. The most popular garments were surely stocking caps and the sweaters. Mittens must have also been commonly worn. We notice Canadian patterns for knitted snow or winter suits in the 1930s. The cold winter weather surely made these garments a very popular outfit for younger Canadian boys. The knitted cap seen here is different than what we have seen in European knitting magazines. The leggings here seen sone rather like Jodpurs, perhaps so they are especially warm and can fit into boots. The leggings include feet. We are not familair with Cannadian knitting magazines. This image is from Dominion Knitting. We are not sure if it is a Canadian or British publication. Canadians woud also have had access to American knotting magazines. French Canadians appear to have generally used the avilaible English language publications rather than French fashion and knitting magazines.

Snow Suit

Coats

Coats are of course an important garment for Canadian children. The climate in Canada has of course affected the clothing to a substantial extent warm coats were needed during the winter. Various styles of coats were worn. Through the 1950s, double breasted styles were common. Boys coats in the 1950s often had fur collars. In America this was fake fur. I assume the same was true in Canada, but can not yet confirm this. One especially popular type od winter coat was the Red River coat which was worn by boys and girls. Canadian readers tell us that the duffle coats were a very important style during the 1970s. Candian boys wore duffle coats throughout the 1960s and 70s, but they have have since declined in popularity. Most Canadian children today have zip-up winter jackets, called ski jackets. [Alcock]

Sweaters

Sweaters have been popular garments and can be worn for much of the year. They are the most popular knit item worn by Canadian boys. Here we have little chronlogical information. A Candian reader, however, has provided us some information on knit sweaters styles that were popular in Canada during the mid-20th cenury.

Long Stockings

HBC has noted several images of Canadian boys wearing long stockings. This appears to have been quite similar to American patterns in the late 19th century. HBC has noted that some Canadian boys continued wearing long stockings in the 20th century when many American boys began wearing short socks and kneesocks. In particular Canadian boys appear to have worn longstockings for dress occasions. This appears to have been more prevalent among French Canadians than English Canadians. HBC has noted French boys wearing long stockings for dress wear as late as the early 1950s. Canadian boys appear to have priarily worn dark long stockings. Ages have varied over time. Quite old boys might wear long stockings at the turn-of-the 20th century, but by the 1940ss and 50s it was mostly boys up to 7 or 8 years, probablu about 10 years at the oldest.

Leggings

Leggings seem to have been common in Canada. Of course the cold winters must have been a factor here. One Canadian reader in the 1950s remembers them. He writes, "My parents insisted I wear wear long leather leggings in the cold weather when I was a toddler. I remember that they were rather stiff and the padded legs made it difficult for me to run. They were light brown and easier to pull on than the pants to my snow suit." In Canada, leggings were commonly worn over long stockings. A canadian reader tells us that the Red River outfit was widely worn in Canada and leggings were a prominent part of that outfit.

Snow Boots

Created: 2:01 AM 4/1/2015
Last updated: 2:01 AM 4/1/2015