Eatonians: The Story of the Family Behind the Family

Debbie Feisst is the reference/Internet resources librarian in the
Information Services Division of the Edmonton Public Library.

Many Canadians of a younger generation were uninterested or confused by
the sense of national mourning that occurred when Eaton’s closed its
doors in the fall of 1999. In an age of shopping-as-hobby, retail wars,
and the rise of the big-box outlet, perhaps it seemed to them just one
more department store going under. For other Canadians, especially
Eaton’s employees, it was the end of an era—an event that left them
devastated and that inspired an outpouring of sadness and grief.
Eatonians is their story.

Timothy Eaton, the founder and patriarch of the family dynasty,
emigrated from Northern Ireland to Ontario and in 1869 opened a
dry-goods store in Toronto at the corner of Yonge and Queen. Due in
equal parts to dogged determination, dedicated staff, and a guarantee of
satisfactory goods, the store acquired international fame. For 130
years, Eaton’s was a mainstay in Canadian cities and its catalogue,
which was cancelled amid near riots in 1976, brought a taste of the big
city to small prairie towns. Phenix points out that at one time in
Eaton’s history, one out of every six Canadians either had worked for
Eaton’s or knew someone who did, and many spent their entire working
lives there.

Their tales are riveting, funny, and often touching. We learn of the
makings of the famous Eaton’s Santa Claus Parade, which has been
described as the “biggest movable billboard in the world” and is
credited with inspiring the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Human
stories abound, and one that stands out is about a Canadian soldier who
sent away for a wristwatch while overseas in France during World War I;
not only did he receive his watch, C.O.D., but it was engraved free of
charge with his name, platoon, and regiment number.

In all, we hear from more than 250 former employees. The book includes
more than 125 black-and-white photos and graphics gleaned from the
Eaton’s archives and from employees themselves. Eatonians is a
well-researched and highly readable sentimental journey that looks at
the rise and fall of one of Canada’s most enduring, and endearing,
institutions.