The Beatles’ John Lennon did something special when he stayed in Mississauga

Fifty-five years ago today, a message of peace was to appear in the skies above Toronto compliments of one of the greatest rock stars of the day.

In December 1969, John Lennon was staying in Mississauga at the farmhouse of rocker Ronnie Hawkins and his plan, along with his wife Yoko Ono, was to send a Christmas greeting to Canadians.

The Lennons hired an airplane skywriter named Wayne Mansfield to write the message, which was going to say “War is over, if you want it. Happy Xmas from John and Yoko.”

At the time, it was going to be the longest message ever written in the sky.

Remember, it was the 1960s; the U.S. was still involved in the Vietnam War and the peace movement was pushing back. Woodstock was held just a few months earlier.

While skywriting is a lost art, it was once a common form of advertising, especially in the mid-20th century. Pilots in small planes released smoke in various bursts and patterns to create a message or symbol that could be read from the ground. It wasn’t an easy skill, and the artists involved were at the mercy of the elements as wind and rain could ruin the efforts.

As the story goes, Dec. 17 was when it was to happen. For those who couldn’t bother to look up that day, the famous couple paid for 30 billboards with the same message to be placed across Toronto. Posters were also put up on walls and buildings, and handbills were given out on the street.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono display their message to Canada and the world.

As for the sky message, accounts differ.

Some say Mansfield encountered less-than-perfect conditions and delayed it for a week. Others swear it happened on the day as planned.

Despite the disputed date, there are enough people who have been around long enough to remember, even if they don’t know exactly when the message appeared.

As the story goes, conditions wouldn’t let Mansfield write the entire message and what he eventually got out was “Happy Xmas, John & Yoko.”

“It was as clear as can be. It was a cold, clear winter day. There was lots of snow on the ground and the sky was bright blue. I have never forgotten that,” says Chris Aielli who was skating at Earlscourt Park on St. Clair Avenue that day. “Not too many people remember it, but I do.”

Tony Renni said he was tobogganing at a park in Rexdale when he happened to look up.

“I was running around showing it to everybody,” laughs Renni all these years later. “When I went home, I told my family, but they didn’t believe me.”

Indeed, it’s a part of Toronto’s history that wasn’t well-documented. Searches for photos and newspaper accounts come up empty with some even questioning their own recollections. Social media has helped, though, with chat groups and other forums mentioning it.

“For years, because nobody seemed to remember, I started to think I was dreaming,” Renni continues. “I’m glad to find out I am not the only one who remembers.”

Meanwhile, Lennon enjoyed his holiday in Mississauga.

Technically, it wasn’t the City of Mississauga quite yet — that wouldn’t happen until 1974 — but where the Town of Mississauga met with the Village of Streetsville on Mississauga Road, just north of Burnhamthorpe Road, that was where John and Yoko stayed.

Staying with fellow rocker Hawkins, Lennon was looking for a place to hide out from the media and crowds of Toronto while he visited Canada to promote world peace while trying to avoid talk of the Beatles breaking up.

Although Lennon and Hawkins had never met, he was familiar with Rompin’ Ronnie’s long list of rockabilly hits, so when it was suggested that the secluded Mississauga farmhouse would be the place to stay, he told his handlers to make it happen.

“It was John Lennon, the most famous musician in the world; who wouldn’t want him as a houseguest?” Hawkins said years later.

Hawkins said Lennon was fascinated with the snow and constantly wanted to ride the snowmobile along the open fields and anywhere else he could turn it loose.

The accounts were backed up by Streetsville residents who reported watching Lennon speed along Mississauga Road several times with Yoko as a passenger hanging on.

While the stay was relatively short, Lennon did accomplish much during his stay in Canada.

His main mission was to meet with Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to spread his message of peace, which he did accomplish. CBC also conducted a lengthy interview with the couple at the Mississauga farmhouse.

Further, Lennon recorded a short message promoting Hawkins’ latest record. As well, some reports say he started working on the song Imagine during his Mississauga stay, though there are several different versions of the origin of the song and how it came to be.