9 to 5: Messengers

Photograph of Bowmanville branch exterior with bank employees, including one in the messenger’s uniform (left), 1911.

Prior to the advent of the Internet, when sending messages became a one-click process, the bank employed messengers. This was an essential position for the day-to-day operations in bank branches and offices to ensure that letters and instructions were delivered in a timely manner.

Messengers were predominantly tasked with delivering money and sensitive documents to, from, and within bank premises. The importance of this responsibility is reflected in the Bank of Montreal Rules and Regulations from 1817, where it is indicated that the messenger “shall be accountable for whatever may be entrusted to his charge and for all sums of money collected by him.”

Photograph of Messenger Boys Hockey Team (comprised of messengers from branches in the Montreal area) after having won against the Royal Bank of Canada, *Staff Magazine*, April 1934.

Additional duties varied based on the size of the office which the messenger served. In smaller branches, for instance, messengers often assumed the responsibilities of porters and ensured that premises remained tidy and functional. Messengers in larger branches, especially during busy hours, often found themselves in the process of helping customers make real financial progress, directing them to appropriate departments and assisting them with paperwork.

As a result of their shared duties and responsibilities, the bank’s messengers developed a strong sense of camaraderie. The Messengers’ Society (sometimes known as “The Friendly Society”) was initially formed in 1925 to present gifts to retiring messengers. As the Society grew, its purpose also evolved into organizing “cheer-up” visits to members experiencing illness. The younger messengers also formed successful hockey teams and bowling leagues.

Photograph of Gertrude Holzgang in her page girl uniform, c. 1943.

During the Second World War, when many male employees enlisted, messenger girls (known as “page girls”) joined the bank. In addition delivering messages by hand, page girls were also responsible for operating pneumatic tubes in bank mail rooms. Owing to the business of the job, page girls were known for their “high voltage” energies, which they often channeled into knitting competitions. The page girls’ annual holiday parties at Montreal Head Office, which included singing, instrument playing, and tap dancing, were also well-known across the bank.