Working-class suburbs in turn-of-the-twentieth-century Victoria, British Columbia
Date
2000
Authors
Jordan, David A.
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Abstract
At the turn-of-the-twentieth-century, the combined forces of immigration, industrialization and advances in transportation technology were responsible for creating substantial changes - both physically and socially - on the fringe of Canadian cities. This thesis examines the changing social geography of four suburban areas in Victoria, British Columbia, by utilizing a wealth of data contained in the 1901 Census of Canada. The data reveal that the socio-economic and socio-cultural patterns of suburban households were remarkably varied, and that the working-class played a significant role in shaping the suburban landscape. An extensive electric street railway - that offered access to abundant, inexpensive land - and scattered job opportunities for blue-collar employees were important factors influencing where workers and their families lived. Families in working-class suburbs were likely to own their own home and a city lot. The consequences of homeownership, however, often meant going without municipal services. It also meant finding the most efficient use of space, both inside and outside the house. This thesis supports the argument that the social geography of Victoria's suburbs was shaped in large part by the decisions of many working-class families.