History of the Winter Bazaar
The Winter Bazaar is a long-standing Crofton House School tradition celebrating the magic of connection and community building.
The Beginnings: A War-Time Initiative
The first Bazaar took place on May 26, 1944, to support the Senior School Junior Red Cross during World War II. Each Senior School form had their own stall, showcasing handmade treasures and delicious treats, while an Army band provided musical entertainment. The event was a great success, raising an impressive $821.50!
Throughout the 1940s, the Bazaar evolved, with students eagerly setting up booths filled with unique crafts, baked goods, and other goodies. By the end of the decade, Junior School students joined in on the fun. In 1949, a new twist was added with the event open to the public, and students selling their handiwork.
The 1960s: Themes and Team Spirit
As the 1960s rolled in, the Bazaar began embracing creative themes each year, adding an extra layer of excitement to the event. From "International" to "Fairy Tales," these themes turned the Bazaar into a magical experience. Notably, alumnae were invited to showcase their own stalls, ensuring opportunities for them to embrace the School's spirit of giving back.
Transition into the 1970s: A New Era
By 1973, the “New Look Bazaar” emerged, shifting the school tradition from a student-led initiative to a mother-and-community-led event. While students remained actively involved, mothers of CHS students stepped up to handle the planning and coordination. This change brought more elaborate raffle prizes and a wider array of goods to purchase, making the Bazaar a true holiday destination!
Recent Years: Embracing the Community
Fast forward to the 1990s, when the establishment of the CHS Parents' Auxiliary helped revitalize the Bazaar's energy and spirit. The event became bi-annual due to the overwhelming participation of parents and students, with each Bazaar requiring extensive coordination. In a remarkable show of community spirit, the 1998 "Bazaar of the Century" featured 45 booths manned by 100 conveners, plus a whopping 340 parent volunteers!
A Brief Hiatus
In 2007, during the rebuilding of campus through the Campus Master Plan, Bazaar was put on hold as construction limited the physical space needed to hold this event. We were excited to welcome the return of the Winter Bazaar in 2015, and thankful to our dedicated community, led by the CHS Parents’ Auxiliary, for their efforts in bringing back this tradition.
Community Engagement
Expanding on its history, the Winter Bazaar continues to play an important role in connecting Crofton House School with the broader community. In 2015 and 2016, proceeds from the Winter Bazaar were directed to CLICK (Contributing to the Lives of Inner City Kids), providing essential resources to inner-city programs.
From 2017 - 2023, proceeds from the Winter Bazaar were directed to the KidSafe Project, an organization that provides a safe place for kids facing adversity to learn, play and eat when school is not in session. A strong partnership between CHS and KidSafe has developed, going beyond financial support to volunteering opportunities, collection drives, and KidSafe using the Crofton House kitchen for meal preparation during school breaks. This collaboration has encouraged numerous Crofton House students to volunteer with the organization, witnessing the tangible impact of their efforts. While the School’s relationship with KidSafe continues, the agreement for support from the Winter Bazaar came to its established endpoint last year. This opened an opportunity for the School to explore supporting other partners already engaged with the learning program and students at CHS.
This year, a decision was made by the School and the CHS Parents’ Auxiliary to direct proceeds from the Winter Bazaar to the Downtown Eastside Women’s Centre and Women Leaders of Tomorrow, organizations dedicated to creating empowering environments for women and driving meaningful change.
Through our reciprocal relationships with these two organizations, the CHS community can support the important work each is doing to positively impact the lives of women and girls locally and globally. Students in the Junior and Senior School are involved in learning opportunities through these two organizations. The commitment to these organizations highlights the Bazaar's role in making a meaningful difference in the community and fostering engaged citizenship.
The Heart of the Bazaar
Today, the Winter Bazaar represents the hard work, creativity, and connection between students, alumnae, parents, and the community. With stalls brimming with handmade crafts, delicious food, and unique gifts, it embodies the true spirit of giving and togetherness.
