Pop-up exhibit showcases one hundred and fifty years of Canadian history through dress styles
Update August 2019: This was a temporary, pop-up exhibit that is no longer showing. The exhibit was, however, a good representation of the type of pop-up shows the Costume Museum of Canada stages. See their website or Facebook page for any current or upcoming shows.
On July 1, 1867 the British North America Act of 1867 (now called the Constitution Act, 1867) was proclaimed into law. The Dominion of Canada was formed. Its four original provinces were Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. In following years, additional provinces became part of the country until it reached from sea to sea to sea. The year 2017 marks the 150th anniversary of confederation and special events are scheduled throughout the country. This week, in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a pop-up exhibit by the Costume Museum of Canada highlights 150 years of dress, focusing on what people might have worn to July 1 celebrations and parades over the years.
A little girl’s dress and a lady’s green corded silk hand-made 2-piece dress, circa 1867 -1870
The bottom underside of the dress was lined with a special material to protect it from dirt
This tuxedo was worn by James Henry Ashdown, a successful businessman and Mayor of Winnipeg in 1907 and 1908
Boy’s 1920 wool sailor suit
Typical suffragette dress
On January 28, 1916, Manitoba women became the first in Canada to win both the right to vote and to hold provincial office. While this was a significant achievement, the right did not extend to all women. The right applied mostly to women of British descent. In 1917-1918, Mennonites and Doukhobors had their voting rights rescinded because of their refusal of military service. It would be decades before First Nations people were fully enfranchised.
I particularly like the suffragette hat
1945 brought the end of World War II. In 1949, Newfoundland became Canada’s 10th province. The 1950s saw a return to normal, family life for many and improved economic conditions. The “baby boom generation” was born.
The new look of the 1950s. More material was used now that war rationing was over. This whimsical skirt is hand-painted.
Jantzen bathing suit and cover-up from 1950
A man’s outfit and a woman’s dress from the lade 1960s, early 1970s
Canada got a new flag in 1965. In 1967, Montreal hosted Expo 67, the first world fair held in Canada.
Lady’s dress 1970
In 1999, the map of Canada was redrawn. The Northwest Territories was subdivided and Canada’s newest territory, Nunavut, was formed
The exhibition ends with costumes recognizing immigrants and new Canadians
The Costume Museum of Canada began in Dugald, Manitoba in 1983. Today, with a collection of 35,000 artifacts in storage in Winnipeg, it operates as a pop-up museum. Volunteers are on hand at their pop-up exhibitions to tell the stories behind the costumes.
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4 Comments
Ken Dowell
May 25, 2017 at 4:17 pmI find the suffragette dress interesting It’s pretty elegant. Later generations of women’s rights activists tended to go more informal as a kind of rejection of restrictive conventions of women’s dres.
Donna Janke
May 28, 2017 at 9:41 amKen, it is elegant but also plain in many ways with simple lines and no colour.
Linda
May 25, 2017 at 6:56 pmI’m pleased that the Museum recognized immigrants and new Canadians. A nice visit….thanks, Donna.
Donna Janke
May 28, 2017 at 9:42 amLinda, the immigrant dresses were a nice way to end the exhibit. I imagine it must have been quite a task deciding which articles from their collection to highlight in this show.