Category: TRREBs Beginning: 1920–1945

“The growing demand for low-cost accommodations brought on by World War II, with the need to house munitions workers as well as returning veterans, led to the federal government’s first direct involvement in new house construction. Although the city and neighbouring municipalities were involved in the construction of emergency housing to cope with shortages, it was the federal government that became the major player on the local scene, constructing large tracts of housing in the townships around Toronto. In the postwar period, the federal government scaled down and finally withdrew from its housing programs, leaving the provision of housing to the private sector.” (“Your Home Our City: Wartime Housing,” City of Toronto)

The war effort spurred high levels of volunteerism throughout Toronto. When the need was high, so was the enthusiasm of the citizenry towards charity and public works. Though overall numbers are not available, Toronto-area REALTORS® certainly paid their dues on the front lines. Postwar biographies of new TRREB Members and Presidents often mentioned their military service. For example, Past President Joseph Abela served in the British army, and Douglas Brownridge was in the RCAF.

“Canadians’ willingness to loan money to their own government by buying war bonds exceeded all expectations. No bond issue in Canadian history had raised more than $5 million, but Ottawa’s first ’victory bond’ drive brought in $100 million, twice the initial estimate. Subsequent drives proved just as successful. Publicity campaigns, including tens of thousands of posters, linked buying bonds to the direct support and welfare of soldiers overseas and used a variety of messages to encourage contributions, from well-known poems to emotional imagery.” (“Finance and War Production,” Canadian War Museum) These bonds helped thousands of people save towards their first home purchase.

At the turn of the 20th century, unethical and often criminal salespeople called “curbstoners” preyed on those unfamiliar with real estate purchasing. This unregulated time of speculation and property selling came to a close when TRREB was established and the Code of Ethics adopted. Even five years after its establishment, TRREB received kudos in the press for its professional approach to community building.

With World War II came shortages of all types, and the rise of the Victory Garden. Homeowners planted vegetables to offset meager wartime rations. In addition, the more produce grown by Canadians in front yards, vacant lots, apartment green spaces, and repurposed flower gardens, the more food could be shipped overseas to soldiers and allied countries. At TRREB, the Board held enlisted memberships for real estate practitioners at no cost for the duration of the conflict.