Starting in the profession was a bit different back in the 1950s. In 2002, Past President George King was asked about what he saw as the most significant change in real estate: “Well, considering that when I joined real estate in 1959 and I paid $2 and got a license, I think the big exchange is the standards of entering the real estate business and the continuing education that is now required and necessary.”
Category: The Boom Years: 1945–1970
The Boom Years:
1945–1970
Building Toronto into a World Class City
In this video, TRREB Member Scott Cusimano talked about his pride in helping to build Toronto into a world class city – in particular his involvement with the Skydome.
Yonge Street Subway Opening
The opening of the Yonge Street Subway was hailed as both a local and national success. The impact on the growth of Toronto was profound. After five years of construction, the first line was opened on March 30, 1954, at cost of $67 million. Jack Key, TRREB President in 1966, stated that “this small investment ignited a $10 billion development explosion along the route from Front and York Street to its terminal, Eglinton Avenue. … two-thirds of all new development in a five-year period (after the subway was built) was put in place within a five minute walk from the Yonge Street subway.” (July 1966, Listings)
REALTOR® City Map
In 1956, a REALTOR® city map cost a dime and a detached two-storey Forest Hill home was about $30,500. It was all about neighbourhoods – schools, churches, stores and streetcars. But the city was rapidly changing. In 1954, the north to south stretch of the subway system was completed from Union Station to Eglinton Station. This line was followed by the construction of the Bloor–Danforth and University Avenue subways, connecting the core to the suburbs to the east and west. It meant people could get around the city faster and more easily. The construction of major highway arteries led to quick growth of nearby communities, including Mississauga, Etobicoke, and Richmond Hill.
Danforth and Greenwood
A photograph of Danforth and Greenwood in 1947.
The Strength of Small Brokerages
TRREB Members found themselves in both small and large brokerages. This article depicts the strength of small brokerages.
Board Offices at 1883 Yonge Street
Opened on April 28, 1970, the new Board offices at 1883 Yonge Street, just south of Davisville, were a central part of TRREB’s 50th Anniversary celebrations. With three storeys and a basement, it was “the first office building in Toronto to feature an exposed concrete coffered ceiling [made of] poured in-place concrete”; it was about 25,000 square feet and cost $1 million.
TRREB Billboard Advertisement
In the 1960s, with new car sales booming and highway infrastructure growing, the billboard became an important part of TRREB’s promotional activities. Throughout the years, a series of billboards were created for display across the GTA to promote the professionalism and services of TRREB Members. In 1966, more than 2,000 bumper stickers were also created for distribution with the theme of “Invest in Better Living – Buy A Home” for National Home Week.
Islington REALTORS’ Curling Club
It wasn’t always working day in, day out. In the 1950s and ‘60s, TRREB provided many social activities for its membership, including curling bonspiels, golf and bowling tournaments, carnivals, and yacht club dances – a different activity was held monthly, sometimes weekly. The Women’s Division held multiple events as well, including a monthly continental breakfast series that featured topics such as landscaping, horticulture, and remodelling.