“Wonderful place, this Christmas Store … the Yuletide decorations are up inside and out, soft music floods the aisles and Santa reigns on his throne. Floor after floor is filled with beautiful Christmas gift suggestions – something for everybody! So many interesting things you’ve never seen before. A cheerful spirit everywhere.”
This is how Eaton’s stores across the country were described during the Christmas season of 1951.
Ahh, Eaton’s at Christmas! How nostalgic!
No matter where you’re from, Fort William, Port Arthur, Toronto, Calgary or Moncton – hearing the name “Eaton’s” awakens a Canadian pride and a yearning for what once was. Many of us have roots with Canada’s iconic department store. Maybe your grandparents or parents, aunts and uncles (like mine!) worked there OR maybe you even worked there!? Perhaps you remember visiting toyland, or maybe your mother entrusted you to stay put in the furniture department (*cough* dad and Uncle Peter *cough*), Saturday morning and watch Flipper so she could shop in peace. Either way, we all have memories of Eaton’s!
Before Eaton’s Port Arthur came to be, the downtown core looked much differently than what we know today.
Prior to the cities of Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamating, Red River Road was previously known as Arthur Street. The corner of Arthur Street and Court Street South was previously known as the Campbell Block and directly beside, on the Arthur Street side, was the Wheeler Block.

Well done! Nicely written. This was fun to read!
Great article Alex. I too have many fond memories of Eatons, particularly during the Christmas season’s. It was a delight to look at the beautifully decorated Christmas trees something I looked forward to every year. Thank you.
I worked in keskus mall until the very day it closed down. I’d always catch the bus downtown early so i could enter through Eaton’s and walk around looking at everything before my shift. It was a sad day when i had to enter through the mall entrance once it was closed. I enjoyed this read very much-brings back fond memories!
My Dad, in the picture of the group that organized the dance at the legion (front row A Thompson, actually it was Thomson – no P) worked for Eaton’s for 37 years, retiring from the Winnipeg store. My first job was packing candies in bags for Santa to give out to the kids. Then I got promoted to washing dishes in the cafeteria down stairs.