Throughout this week, I am taking a nostalgic look at school supplies in Canada. Today, it is the story of the maps that were in every classroom in Canada, all provided by a Canadian dairy and chocolate company. This is the story of the Neilson's Maps! 𧡠1/7
Attended school in the 60s and 70s in BC & never saw these maps until you posted your thread. Is this another case of a Toronto based content producer saying "every classroom in Canada" but meaning just Ontario? I enjoy your stuff, but I do tire of Eastern folks considering Ont. to be all of Canada.
Was in school the same years in QuΓ©bec, never saw those maps either.
Racking my brain trying to remember if we had a map like this in school in B.C. I know B.C. had them, but since I started school in 1961, maybe the maps had changed, as I don't remember these maps.
I remember the sound of the teacher's wooden pointer hitting the map.
Jersey Milk chocolate was my Grandma's fave - wish I could still find them.
Neilson's Dairy was founded in 1893 by William Neilson in Toronto. The company began as a milk retailer and quickly grew in size. Before long, it was providing ice cream as a product, but later expanded into other treats as Canada's population grew. 𧡠2/7
William Neilson died in 1915 and his son Morden took over. It was under him the chocolate division was created. Among their products are Mr. Big, Crispy Crunch and Jersey Milk. In the 1930s, the company sent out letters to schools in Canada, offering maps for free. 𧡠3/7
Since money was tight for many schools, the offer of the free map was quickly accepted. When the maps arrived, they included the words at the top: "Neilson's, The Best Chocolate Bars In Canada". It was perfect advertising. 𧡠4/7
The maps included a letter that stated the maps could not be removed from the school and the Neilson Chocolate Bar lettering could not be covered in any way. About 55,000 of these maps were sent out and they became a fixture of Canadian classrooms. 𧡠5/7
The company continued to send out maps to reflect changes in the Canadian or world maps. The maps continued to be used for decades, well into the 1970s and in some cases the 1980s. Today, they are highly sought after (including by me) at antique shops and thrift stores. 𧡠6/7
I hope you enjoyed that look at the Neilson maps. If you enjoy my Canadian history content, you can support my work with a donation at π www.buymeacoffee.com/craigu *sources in next post* 𧡠7/7
Sources: MaryLou Driedger: buff.ly/MNxafnT Education History Museum: buff.ly/S4VjmCN
I remember these maps, but I had completely forgotten about the Malted Milk chocolate bar. As a kid, I loved those bars!
That's obnoxious. Were there any binding contract terms, or just a stern bluff that it was a rule?
Interesting- never saw one, either in 60's Quebec elementary school or 70's Ontario middle and high Liked alot of the Neilson's products though
I was in school in Canada (NL) in the 60s and 70s, and join those who have never seen these maps
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Anyone know if you can still get Malted Milk bars anywhere??? They were my favourite π
