Immediately after the 1929 stock market crash, Torontonians experienced a steep decline in employment rates. By 1933, the unemployment rate in Toronto was a whopping 30 percent, and those who had jobs saw their wages drop by as much as 60 percent.
Despite the economic downturn, several architectural landmarks were constructed during this decade. In 1931, the Maple Leaf Gardens and the Canada Life Building opened, as well as the beautiful Canadian Bank of Commerce Building (now Commerce Court North). Construction on College Park began in 1928 but was completed by the turn of the century. In the 1930s, Eaton’s was the place to shop, Winnipeg’s streets were crowded with Peter Witt streetcars, and Leaf’s games cost 75 cents. Toronto’s population continued to grow following the post-war era.
What’s with the obsession with oak street?
Regent Park on Oak Street was one of the first ghettos in Canada, constructed during the depression era, and the area still remains poor after almost a century. The houses were poorly built, leading to residents freezing in the winter, and the streets were littered with garbage and rats. With no access to running water, the hygiene was poor, and most of the crime went unreported. This area was a pit, similar to Allen Gardens and the Garden District today. Farewell Oak St is a movie that depicts the harsh living conditions in this area.
White bros probably
And people weren’t sleeping in parks in tents, no matter the ghettos we had. They also had lots of boarding houses.