Back to the 40's
75ᵗʰ Anniversary
Small Arms Building
Saturday, May 25, 2019
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Official Ceremony - 1:30 PM
Small Arms Inspection Building
1352 Lakeshore Rd. East
Mississauga, ON L5E 1E9
What to wear to the 75th Anniversary:
Dress up in your 1940's finest! Get the look!
Celebrate the Small Arms Ltd. workers and the local community who supported WWII on the home front!
The Small Arms Society (SAS) is hosting a “back to the 40’s” event, to celebrate the 14,000 women and men who worked at the Small Arms Ltd. site from 1940-1946.
Over two-thirds of the workforce were women who played a vital role in supporting the Canadian military efforts during WWII.
ENTERTAINMENT
PATTI JANNETTA
We are blessed to have respected singer, songwriter, recording artist and band leader, Patti Jannetta, as
our Master of Ceremonies and songstress for our 75 th anniversary celebration commemorating Small Arms Limited and its workers. She has traveled the world and shared the stage with many talented international artists.
Patti worked tirelessly with a group of dedicated community members to save the Small Arms Inspection Building from demolition. Many will recognize her as a founding director and past Artistic Director of the Mississauga Waterfront Festival. She is currently Committee Chair of Mississauga ITALFEST and of
course busy with her singing and event management career!
AULT SISTERS
These versatile Toronto-based vocal jazz trio composed of 3 sisters – Amanda, Alicia and
Alanna Ault are known for their signature close harmonies reminiscent of past vocalist groups
such as The Andrew Sisters and The McGuire Sisters. They present classic hits re-imagined
and are extremely versatile with a genre-defying repertoire drawing from jazz, pop, R&B, blues, folk and more.
DAMIEN GUIDE
Also known as Colonel M.P. Jolley, Damien Gulde is an actor, comedy performer, playwright, director and scenic artist who has done projects across the GTA. Look for him in Sketchy Adventures in the Enchanted Forest at this Summer's Fringe Festival!
MISSISSAUGA BIG
BAND JAZZ ENSEMBLE
This wonderful collective of talented folks have performed jazz for the joy of it for over 30 years. The band includes both professional and amateur musicians ranging in age from 18 to 83! They perform original
compositions and arrangements.
Enjoy as the group performs music of the 40’s under the direction of Conductor Bruce Cassidy and Band
Leader Rob Boniface.
HEATHER CHRISTINE
Heather Christine will be performing with the Mississauga Big Band Jazz Ensemble at the 75th Anniversary of the Small Arms Inspection Building May 25th! Heather was classically trained through the Royal Conservatory of Music with legendary soprano Eleanor Calbes.
Heather performs at major stages and festivals across the Toronto area. Both soulful and captivating, she has worked professionally for over 15 years as a featured soloist, vocalist, actress, songwriter and dancer.
TRAVIS KNIGHTS
Tap dancer, performer, choreographer, speaker - Travis Knights is realizing his dreams, pounding rhythms on wood floors all over the world. His career started in 2000, when cast as a principal dancer in the motion picture biography of Bill 'Bojangles' Robinson with Gregory Hines. Based in Brampton, Travis hosts The Tap Love Tour Podcast, and is developing an original full-length work commissioned by Soulpepper Theater Company.
BLUEHEEL DANCE
STUDIO
Caroline Augustin of The Blueheel Dance Studio has brought her boundless energy and enthusiasm to the Small Arms Society as a past Board Director (Marketing + Communications) and now volunteer extraordinaire! She can inspire anyone to dance …and so she does!
As a self-described “accidental entrepreneur”, she has grown ‘Blueheel’, now in Port Credit, into a
successful dance business with her business partner Bee Songvilay. Blueheel delivers an eclectic mix of
classic ballroom, swing, Latin instruction and more.
This afternoon we will all get into the “swing of things” to dance moves and music of the 40’s under
Caroline’s’ competent direction. ENJOY!!!
Classical Vehicles
1937 PONTIAC
A black 1937 Pontiac convertible. It is a very rare car and was once owned by a gentleman who worked at the SAIB in the 40’s. It has been passed down through the family over the years and is now owned by his granddaughter. See more like this at the Small Arms Building on May 25th!
1938 DODGE
A red 1938 Dodge pickup owned by a family in Lorne Park. Their mother was an original worker at the SAIB in the 40’s so this event is very special to them. The vehicle is outstanding, being over 80 yrs old! See more like this at the Small Arms Building on May 25th!
WHAT TO WEAR
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Dress-up in your 1940's finest or as a Small Arms Ltd. factory worker.
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Enjoy a 1940's cafe experience at the Brant Street Café with tea, refreshments, homemade baked goodies and more.
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Music and dancing were a big part of the social life in the 1940's. Enjoy re-enactments, big band music, dancing, swing dance lessons, singing and more.
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Learn about the history of the Small Arms Inspection Building and site along with Victory Bond celebrations and activities of 1944. Exhibits and artifacts will be on display in collaboration with Centennial College – Museum and Culture Management program.
WHAT TO KNOW
Free Parking: Onsite parking adjacent to the Small Arms Inspection Building (south of Lakeshore Road at Dixie Road). Additional parking in the lot on the north west corner of Dixie and Lakeshore Roads.
Accessible parking is available. Please let the parking attendant know your requirements.
Free admission: Wear your 1940’s finest!
Tea and Treats: Cash required.
Photographs: Please be advised that by admission into this event you provide approval for photographers and/or videographers to take and publish your digital or print media images on behalf of the Small Arms Society for marketing purposes.
Accessibility: The main exhibition space and all public facilities are barrier free and include gender neutral washrooms.
Donations: We are pleased to support The Compass Food Bank and welcome your donations.