1940s
1940:
GWG's 400 operators worked around the clock, producing 1,000 military uniforms each day.
GWG President C.A. Graham died in December at the age of 58.
1941:
C.D. Jacox succeeded C.A. Graham as president, and ownership of the company was consolidated in the Graham and Jacox families.
GWG celebrated its 30th anniversary.
The accumulated value of GWG's annual government contracts reached $1 million.
The workforce grew to 500 people, who manufactured 12,500 uniforms per week.
When the men enlisted in the war, women assumed traditional male roles (i.e., as cutters) and their work was considered an essential service.
1942:
C.D. Jacox was appointed deputy administrator for Alberta for work clothing under the Wartime Prices and Trade Board.
GWG built a $125,000, two-storey addition to the east of the plant.
In 1940, GWG was one of the first manufacturers to grant pay increases following the Depression. By 1942, wages had dropped again and Local 120 had to appeal to the National War Labor board to restore operators' rates to the 1939 level.
1943:
GWG lobbied Edmonton City Council to provide daycare to allow women with young children to continue working.
Emily Ross briefly served as president of Local 120 before resigning to become the UGWA organizer for Western Canada.
1944:
GWG looked forward to the end of the war.
1945:
With wartime clothing rationing still in force for Edmonton residents, GWG won a government contract to supply the Dutch army with military uniforms: 68,000 pairs of combination overalls, 15,000 khaki service trousers, 30,000 overalls for the marines, 65,000 flannel shirts and 35,000 white drill shorts for the air force.
1946:
Following World War II, displaced persons from Europe began to immigrate to Edmonton. Many women found work at GWG.
1948:
GWG introduced Driller's Drill clothing following the discovery of oil at Leduc, Alberta.
