Virtual Puzzles: Winter fun & a splash of colour to ring in 2021

Outdoor activities are front and center this holiday break. If you are looking for a fun way to stay warm after an afternoon of sledding or skiing, try your hand at solving these jigsaw puzzles featuring vintage images courtesy of Rare Books and Special Collections.

Click on the hyperlinks to work on the puzzle from the Jigsaw Explorer website or solve them one piece at a time on the versions embedded in this blog. Choose the number of puzzle pieces you want to work with by pressing the nine square icon in the centre of the puzzle, and then rotate, drag and drop pieces into place to make these wintry scenes come alive.

Tobogganing near Montreal, Canada. 19th century Christmas card. Rare Books and Special Collections.

Work on the above puzzle here or tackle the embedded version below.


Poster. Ski in Québec and “Lac Beauport.” Artist unknown. Quebec Municipal Tourist and Industrial Bureau, c.1940. Ink on paper, 91 x 61 cm. Poster Collection, McGill Rare Books and Special Collections.

Work on the above puzzle here or tackle the embedded version below.


Poster. Wintertime in Montreal. Illustration by Roger Couillard. Quebec Provincial Publicity Bureau, c.1950. Poster Collection, McGill Rare Books and Special Collections.

Work on the above puzzle here or tackle the embedded version below.


Postcard. Uncatalogued, Rare Books and Special Collections.

Expert puzzlers! Work on the above puzzle here or tackle the embedded version below.


Looking for more interactive fun? Check out “Seasonal Colour” – a 360 degree exhibition brought to you by the elves on the shelves at ROAAr. Use the menu on the top left to transport you to the different sections in the case. Click and drag your mouse to look around the room. Zoom in and out to explore this curated selection of holiday postcards, books, memorabilia, and cookbooks. To see what this experience is like, check out the video below.

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