toraerach
Active Member
More than likely this was the case.
What could you do on Sundays in my childhood (1960s)? You could eat out, see a movie, go to the AGO, ROM or Science Centre. There were lots of activities of the people watching variety - Toronto Island, watch the planes from the Terminal One observation decks. Gramps still held historical associations with Sunnyside as a poor man's local Riviera, so many Torontonians spent their Sundays there.
Retail and grocery was shut up tight as a drum. In the early 80s when the regulations were relaxed for supermarkets, they could sell 'staples' like milk, bread, meat and eggs, but they had to rope off the canned goods aisles. Everyone routinely ducked under the ropes. I can't remember whose gov't finally put a bullet into the neck of Sunday Shopping laws. Bless em
A bit off topic, but speaking of days where everything was closed, has anyone ever heard of/can explain Wednesday afternoon closings. The only place where I know this happened is Campbellford, Ontario. Apparently, every Wednesday well into at least the 1960s if not the 70s the entire town would shut down at noon. My mother used to tell me about it when we would go visit family there, but she had no clue as to why this was. For all I know, she could have just been exaggerating, but I would be interested if anyone had any info on this strange practice.