Boxing Day in 1971 was crowded and according to the law at the time, illegal as it fell on a Sunday. Although acknowledging the illegality of it, a police official told the @thetorontostar that no action would be taken against shoppers or store owners.

In 1906 the Lord’s Day Act was passed federally in Canada which prohibited things such as shopping on Sundays. In 1985 however, a case came before the Supreme Court of Canada which found that the Lord’s Day Act contradicted the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, and the Lord’s Day Act was dissolved. However, another act called, the Retail Business Holidays Act ensured that Sunday’s would still be a no-go for most retail stores in Ontario (convenience stores and gas stations were just a couple of businesses exempt from this Act). Still, there were some retailers who ignored the law, accepted fines, and in some cases were even arrested.

In 1990 the Supreme Court of Canada found the Retail Businesses Act unconstitutional, giving Ontario nine months of Sunday shopping, until the Ontario Court of Appeal reversed that decision less than a year later.

Due to growing public opposition, the Retail Business Holidays Act was amended under the Rae government in 1992, making Sunday shopping in Ontario legal. 📸: @torontostararchives (via @myseumtoronto)