Expo 67’ Canada Pavilion Hostess

Location: Montréal, Québec
Year: 1967 (April 27-October 29)
Materials: Wool
Maker: Designed by Michel Robichaud
Accreditation: McCord Stewart Museum, Montréal (M967.85)


This Canada Pavilion uniform was worn by one hundred female hostesses for Montréal's Expo 67’ (short for International and Universal Exposition) between April and October 1967. The theme of that year’s Expo was "Man and His World", which highlighted culture, art, and innovations in technology. Sixty-two nations participated in this globally reaching event, all with distinctive fashionable uniforms reflective of their culture. Both the Canada Pavilion Hostess and the Expo 67' Hostess uniforms were designed by Canadian fashion designer Michel Robichaud (b.1937, Montréal). Robichaud also designed uniforms for TransCanada Airlines, VIA rail and the 1976 Montréal Olympics. To this day there are two remaining structures from Expo 67’: Habitat 67 and the Montréal Biosphere. 
Physical Description: This uniform contains many components from head-to-toe. Taking the largest visual weight is the Robichaud light-brown wool jacket with its matching dress. The jacket has elbow length sleeves, a mandarin collar and three button loops on the front. The dress is sleeveless with an empire waist. Above this high waistline is robin’s egg blue fabric and below it is the same brown fabric as the jacket. To complement the dress and jacket are a robin's egg blue pillbox hat with a brown rim, a pair of wrist length gloves, a cocoa brown leather purse, a gold maple leaf name tag, and brown leather heels with rubber traction soles. The colours of this uniform were inspired by the Canada Pavillion (see photo below). Together this ensemble is highly fashionable, youthful, and reflective of the mod fashion from the 1960s. 

Canada Pavillion at Expo 67’


References:
  1. Bélanger, Laurent. Expo 67, pavillon du Canada et sa pyramide inversée ( le Katimavik). 1967.
    https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Expo_67,_pavillon_du_Canada_et_sa_pyramide_invers%C3%A9e_(_le_Katimavik).jpg
  2. Canadian Government Pavilion Expo '67. Occupational Uniform. Accession M967.85.3.1-2. McCord Stewart Museum. Montréal, QC. https://collections.musee-mccord-stewart.ca/en/objects/37321/uniforme-dhotesse-pavillon-du-canada-expo-67?ctx=3d66754bd61aec6a8b7a7dfd7f3fa4a2b61a4dbe&idx=4
  3. Canadian Government Pavilion Expo '67. Brooch. Accession M967.85.7. McCord Stewart Museum. Montréal, QC. https://collections.musee-mccord-stewart.ca/en/objects/37326/uniforme-dhotesse-pavillon-du-canada-expo-67?ctx=3d66754bd61aec6a8b7a7dfd7f3fa4a2b61a4dbe&idx=0
  4. Canadian Government Pavilion Expo '67. Purse. Accession M967.85.5. McCord Stewart Museum. Montréal, QC. https://collections.musee-mccord-stewart.ca/en/objects/37324/uniforme-dhotesse-pavillon-du-canada-expo-67?ctx=3d66754bd61aec6a8b7a7dfd7f3fa4a2b61a4dbe&idx=1
  5. Canadian Government Pavilion Expo '67. Pill Box Hat. Accession M967.85.4. McCord Stewart Museum. Montréal, QC. https://collections.musee-mccord-stewart.ca/en/objects/37323/uniforme-dhotesse-pavillon-du-canada-expo-67?ctx=3d66754bd61aec6a8b7a7dfd7f3fa4a2b61a4dbe&idx=2
  6. Canadian Government Pavilion Expo '67. Glove. Accession M967.85.6.1-2. McCord Stewart Museum. Montréal, QC. https://collections.musee-mccord-stewart.ca/en/objects/37325/uniforme-dhotesse-pavillon-du-canada-expo-67?ctx=3d66754bd61aec6a8b7a7dfd7f3fa4a2b61a4dbe&idx=3
  7. Canadian Government Pavilion Expo '67. Shoe. Accession M967.85.1.1-2. McCord Stewart Museum. Montréal, QC. https://collections.musee-mccord-stewart.ca/en/objects/37316/uniforme-dhotesse-pavillon-du-canada-expo-67?ctx=3d66754bd61aec6a8b7a7dfd7f3fa4a2b61a4dbe&idx=5