The Peace Arch Celebration – between Blaine + B.C., 22 Sept. 1940. Henrietta (nee Thrift) Radford Collection, 2021.0002.79. Courtesy of Surrey Archives.

Following the end of the war many took part in celebrations, including high school students. At Queen Elizabeth there was much “screaming and yelling and cheering” to celebrate V-E Day (Victory in Europe Day, 8 May 1945). Some female students at Queen Elizabeth decided to wear slacks to school in order to celebrate the occasion. Despite the environment of excitement these students were still sent home. Youth in Surrey also took part in V-J Day (Victory over Japan Day, 15 August 1945) celebrations, with Reeve Brown addressing the young people and stating, “On your shoulders rests a great responsibility, for while we rejoice in Victory make no mistake about it, it is the younger generation which must find out the cause of war and remove that cause.”1

The Peace Arch celebration in September of 1945 was meant to celebrate both V-E Day and V-J Day. It was intended for students from Surrey schools to be bussed in to celebrate the special occasion, which promised to be “more impressive and joyous than ever before,” with the allies “celebrating a double victory over the forces of oppression.” This event was not able to occur due to a polio outbreak in Washington.2

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References

  1. Joan Parolin (nee Gillis) Interview, 8 Aug. 1990. SMA90.21.19. Surrey Museum and Archives Oral History Collection. Courtesy of Surrey Archives, Surrey, BC. Canada.; “V-J Celebrations Here in Surrey.” The Surrey Leader (Surrey, BC, Canada), August 16, 1945. Accessed through Surrey Archives. ↩︎
  2. “Peace-Arch Celebration Cancelled by Polio.” The Surrey Leader (Surrey, BC, Canada), September 13, 1945. Accessed through Surrey Archives.; “Surrey Children to Take Part in Peace Arch Celebration, Sept. 28.” The Surrey Leader (Surrey, BC, Canada), September 6, 1945. Accessed through Surrey Archives. ↩︎