Theme Collections

Locations, Events and Miscellaneous - Non-Cape Breton Related

Halifax

Photos and Newspaper Clippings

This section contains eighteen photos and two newspaper clippings pertaining to the VE Day celebrations and riots in Halifax on May 7 and 8, 1945. The photos and clippings are all from two loose pages from a war time era photo album. The original owner of the album is not known. Many of the photos were captioned. The photos in this section are in the order they appeared in the photo album.

The official announcement of victory in Europe was received in Halifax on May 7, 1945. Fearful of excessive drinking and partying, city officials closed liquor stores, bars, restaurants and theatres. With thousands of sailors and other servicemen on the streets with no place to go, liquor stores were broken into and looted. With liquor adding fuel to the fire, servicemen and civilians alike rampaged though the business districts smashing windows and stealing merchandise. Despite the riot, the official VE Day or Victory in Europe Day, celebrations in Halifax took place the next day on May 8th. The rioting also continued and wasn’t stopped until later that day. In the end many hundreds of businesses in Halifax and Dartmouth were damaged, vandalized and looted.

Click or tap on the images below for high resolution, expandable images. Use your back button to return to this page.

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

The crowd is gathered on the west slope of Citadel Hill to view the ceremonies on the Garrison Grounds.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-1.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

The view is from the west side of Citadel Hill looking onto the Garrison Grounds. The building on the far left is the CBC Buiding located on the corner of South Park and Sackville Streets.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-2.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Pipe Band

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

The location is the Garrison Grounds. The pipe band appears to be made up of members from different units. Note the navy piper.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-3.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Navy Band

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

The caption for the original photo indicated that this was the parade to the Garrison Grounds. Citadel Hill is in the background.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-4.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Sailors Marching

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

The caption for the original photo indicated that this was the parade to the Garrison Grounds.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-5.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Parade

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

A navy band marches down a street. The caption for the original photo indicated that this was the parade to the Garrison Grounds.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-6.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Troops Marching

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

The caption for the original photo indicated that this was a parade to the Garrison Grounds.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-7.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Unidentified Women

VE Day Celebrations

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

Some of the women show up in other photos in the series. They may be friends and/or relatives of the person who took the photos.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-8.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

VE Day Riots

Barrington Street

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

Sailors drinking. The caption for the original photo indicated that this was taken on Barrington Street in downtown Halifax.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-9.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

VE Day Riots

Hollis Street

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

The caption for the original photo indicated that this was taken on Hollis Street in downtown Halifax "during the liquor store riot."

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-10.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

VE Day Riots

Spring Garden Road

Halifax, NS

May 8, 1945

Sailors on the street. The caption for the original photo was "Directing traffic in front of Lord Nelson Hotel." This would be the intersection of Spring Garden Road and South Park Street. In the background is the Robert Burns statue in Victoria Park.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-11.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Band Marching

VE Day Riots

Halifax, NS

Circa May 8, 1945

The caption for the original photo read "Troops from Debert brought in to quell the riot."

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-12.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Troops Marching

VE Day Riots

Halifax, NS

Circa May 8, 1945

The caption for the original photo read "Troops from Debert brought in to quell the riot."

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-13.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Troops Marching

VE Day Riots

Halifax, NS

Circa May 8, 1945

The caption for the original photo read "Troops from Debert brought in to quell the riot."

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-14.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Aftermath of VE Day Riots

Barrington Street

Halifax, NS

May 9,1945

People inspect the damage to storefronts on Barrington Street. Note workers on ladders boarding up windows or starting repairs. The darker building on the right is the Green Lantern building named after the famous Green Lantern Restaurant which was located further to the right, outside the field of view of the photographer. Some of the women in the centre of the photo show up in other photos in the series.

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-16.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Aftermath of VE Day Riots

Halifax, NS

May 9, 1945

Boarded up storefronts on an unidentified street in Halifax. Note the sign on the plywood which reads "WHY?" The caption for the original photo was "Morning After."

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-17.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Aftermath of VE Day Riots

Halifax, NS

May 9, 1945

An unidentified woman stands in front of a smashed storefront in downtown Halifax. The caption for the original photo was "Morning After."

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-18.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Unidentified Group of Canadian Sailors

Halifax, NS

Circa May 9, 1945

Photographer: Unknown
Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-19.3)
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Newspaper Clipping

Article

"Around the Town"

Undated - Circa May 9, 1945

Article about the Halifax VE Day riots.

Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-20.2)
Writer: Unidentified
Newspaper: Probably The Halifax Herald
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection

Newspaper Clipping

Article

"Reign of Terror Disgrace to the Whole Dominion"

Undated - Circa May 9, 1945

Article about the Halifax VE Day riots.

Ref. Number: 0-4 (13-8-21.2)
Writer: Unidentified
Newspaper: Probably The Halifax Herald
Image Information: Scan of original photo
Source: Robert MacLellan Collection