Santa Claus parade, Winnipeg, 1948

Creator: Maniar, Jayesh

Subjects: Parades; Parade floats; Christmas; Santa Claus

Date: 1948

Language: English

Description: A film depicting the 1948 Eaton's Santa Claus Parade in Winnipeg. The film shows several parade floats proceeding through the streets of Winnipeg and ends with the arrival of Santa Claus.

Information on the locations in the video provided by Wayne Chan (December 2020):

00:00-02:51: Isabel St. near Elgin Ave.

A sign for Security Storage can be seen in the background. It was located at 215 Isabel at Ross Ave. The building with the Radio Oil sign on the side of it was Duchon Sign Co. at 185 Isabel. North of it was an apartment block and next to that were the Midland Fruit Company and Highway Fruit Company, which were at 189 Isabel. Adjacent to the fruit companies was the Fruit Row service station on the southeast corner of Ross and Isabel. The camera was located near the intersection of Isabel and Elgin Ave. The service station across the street from the camera was Swan's Service Station at 177 Isabel.

02:52-04:12 Sherbrook St. and Portage Ave.

The tall tower that is visible on the left in the background at 03:24 is the old fire hall No. 5 at 354 Sherbrook, which was torn down in November 2011. The drug store with the neon sign at the corner of Sherbrook and Portage was Harman's Drug Store at 647 Portage.

04:13-05:38 Graham Ave. between Hargrave and Donald St. (behind the Eaton's store.)

The parade came up Hargrave St. and turned east onto Graham Ave. In the far distance you can see the Hudson's Bay store. On the left is the original bus depot, which was on Graham between Carlton St. and Hargrave St. It was replaced by the bus depot on Portage Ave. at Colony St. in 1964. Between 05:21-05:38, Santa Claus exits his sleigh and climbs a staircase to the roof of Eaton's main floor annex where Toyland was located.

Type: film

Format: VOB

Source: University of Manitoba Archives & Special Collections - Jayesh Maniar fonds (PC 174, A.05-08), Box 1, Item 2

Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Copyright statement: Any reproductions of this material may be restricted by copyright regulations. Please consult Archives staff for further information.