Into the Toybox 1960 to 1969

1960 to 1969

The period of 1960 to 1969 brought more toys that we all still play with including favourites like Hot Wheels, lite-Brite and hula hoops! This is the start of the childhood and teen years of the baby boomers. Unfortunately, we have yet another dark mark on Canadian history with the Sixties Scoop occurring (where Indigenous children were taken away from their families to be put into foster care) which has a lasting impact on our Indigenous communities and children. For more information on the Sixties Scoop, click here.

What did Pitt Meadows Look like during this time?

The population of Pitt Meadows was around 2,500 by 1969. It is an exciting time to be a part of our community as we celebrated our 50^th anniversary in 1964 (including building a portable stage for the Pitt Meadows Day celebrations that would be used until the early 2000s!). Edith McDermott also worked on creating a history book of our community which would be published in 1967 after her death. Our longest-serving Reeve, Harold Sutton, retired in 1965, and sadly, the Women’s Institute also disbanded that year. The Pitt Meadows airport opened in 1963. It was a period of quiet growth.

Entertainment

Toys that were created during this time: Lite-Brite (1967),Hot Wheels (1968),Hula Hoop (1963),GI Joe Action Figures (1964),Easy Bake Oven (1963)

During this time, many mass-produced and/or plastic toys enter children's childhoods. Toys based on popular television shows like GI Joe started to enter the market as well. Children are continuing to play outside, play sports with their friends, and have an electronic-free childhood compared to our modern children (there are no game systems readily available yet, or I-pads or computers). Kids are watching new shows like Mister Rogers Neighbourhood, the Brady Bunch, Sesame Street, Mr. Dressup, and The Littlest Hobo (and even historical events like the moon landing on July 11^th, 1969!).

Kids in Pitt Meadows are still playing sports that their parents would have played, like lacrosse, baseball and hockey. With the assistance of the Pitt Meadows Athletic Association helping create opportunities for them to play. Kids were active and grew up outside.

Education

British Columbia

As a country, we got a new flag due to Lester B. Pearsons government in 1965 which introduced our iconic red and white maple leaf flag that will be flying in schools. In 1967, schools started celebrating Canada’s Centennial Year. Most schools would work on projects or things that promote nationalism and national unity. In 1960, the Chant Report was presented to the British Columbia Government, with 158 recommendations to transform education in the province. It generated a lot of discussion and changes throughout our education system in this province.

Pitt Meadows

In 1961, Meadowland Elementary was opened with two rooms and a principal, Ken Fiddes. In 1962 two more rooms were added and in 1964 a fifth room and an activity room with a stage were added. Pitt Meadows Secondary School with 13 rooms, activity room and stage was opened in 1961 to serve students from Pitt Meadows and Hammond areas. This meant that students no longer had to go to Maple Ridge for their high school education!

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The 1960s was a great year for students, as we had more schools opening and finally got our own high school!

Back to the Toybox.

Pick Up Sticks Game

Doll

Blue Iceskates