FESTIVE SPIRIT AT McCORD
Ogilvy’s Christmas windows on display
It was beginning to feel a lot like Christmas, Tuesday morning, as melting snow fell and a landmark of Montreal’s holiday season was revived in a new setting. Ogilvy’s beloved mechanical Christmas displays were unveiled at the McCord Museum, where they will be shown until Jan. 6. The downtown department store’s annual scenes of stuffed animals interacting in imaginary settings had been delighting Montrealers since 1947. The tradition was brought to an end this year, when The Selfridges Group, which includes Holt Renfrew & Co Ltd. and Ogilvy, donated its two displays, The Mill In the Forest and the Enchanted Village, to the McCord. “The Ogilvy’s displays are part of Montreal history. We hope they’ll continue to delight thousands of Montreal families,” Suzanne Sauvage, president and chief executive officer of the McCord, said in a statement. The Mill in the Forest can be seen 24 hours a day at the corner of Sherbrooke St. W. and Victoria St., outside the museum (and will be seen for the next five holiday seasons, thanks to sponsor iÖGO nanö). The Enchanted Village is in a room on the second floor. Magdalene Karalis was among the passersby taking in the interaction among the stuffed monkeys, donkeys, ducks, bears, rabbits, dogs, frogs and hedgehogs in the street display. “I think it’s gorgeous,” said the McGill student. “It’s really cute. I think it’s a creative way to get into the holiday spirit, and brighten all our days.” Two international students at McGill, Cleo Aitchison and Dilse Kaygisiz, were at once fascinated and perplexed. “It’s difficult to know where (the display) is from,” said Aitchison, born in Montreal but raised in the U.K., who had not noticed the information on the side of the outdoor structure. “It’s original,” said Kaygisiz. “I’ve never seen a display like this. Usually they’re more related to Christmas than stuffed animals.” “And also not moving,” added Aitchison. Visiting from Boston, Hugh Willburn and Michael Rogan appreciated the elaborate staging. “In Boston, there used to be a store that had Christmas displays, but not as fun as this one, nor as populated,” Willburn said. “Nor as animated,” Rogan concurred. “It’s charming.” “It’s wonderful we just happened upon it.” Bob Asch, 89, is a member of the McCord. He was passing by when he stopped to take a few pictures and enjoy the view. “I find this most interesting,” Asch said of the outdoor showcase. “It’s a good advertisement (for the museum).” In order to ensure the continuation of the Ogilvy windows holiday tradition, the McCord is launching an Adopt An Animal campaign, in which participants can symbolically adopt one of the 141 stuffed animals for five years, through donations ranging from $50 to $500. For children visiting the exhibit, the McCord offers a free seek and find game, and story time every day at 11 a.m. (in French) and 3:30 p.m. (in English), through Dec. 14. Christmas carols will be sung Saturdays at 11 a.m., through Dec. 15. And I Musici de Montréal performs 60-minute concerts of winter and Christmas music on Dec. 9 and 16 at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 (free for children under 12 and museum members). For more information, visit musee-mccord.qc.ca.