Holiday window displays return to former Hudson’s Bay in downtown Toronto

With the closure of the Hudson’s Bay Company stores across Canada, an annual holiday tradition was nearly lost.

After financial struggles, Hudson’s Bay stores closed at the end of May this year.

And with the closure, a tradition dating back over 100 years nearly ended. Festive window displays at Yonge and Queen streets date back to at least to the early 1910s when Simpsons department store occupied the space. Hudson Bay’s Company took over in 1991 and continued the tradition.

The windows featured colourful Christmas characters set in motion with electric motors. They combined music and nostalgic scenes such as a Christmas dinner, a candy factory or Santa’s workshop. More recently digital displays were added.

Despite HBC’s closure, the windows will return this year.

Eaton Centre owner, Cadillac Fairview, told YourCityWithin they are helping to “revive the holiday window experience at the former Hudson’s Bay building and honour a cherished Toronto tradition to ensure the historic intersection of Yonge and Queen remains a vibrant destination this holiday season.”

The prominent Yonge Street windows are secured by a single major brand for the holidays in 2025, the spokesperson said. They didn’t name the brand.

The windows will be unveiled on Sunday, Dec. 14 and will run through the new year.

In the future, the display space will be available on Bay Street and Richmond Street for new partners.

Moving beyond a seasonal retail display, the program is positioned as a year-round experiential marketing platform for external brands, cultural institutions and charities, the spokesperson said.