Thesis (Ph. D.)--York University, 2001. Graduate Programme in Environmental Studies. / Typescript. Title on certificate page: When host become guests. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 271-291). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://wwwlib.umi.com/cr/yorku/fullcit?pNQ66345.

Zugl.: Toronto, Univ., Diss.

This research examines representations of condominiums in the real estate section of the Toronto Star from 1967 through 1997, and in the Star’s Condo Living section between 1997 and 2007. I depart from conventional approaches by evaluating the articles as well as the advertisements that comprise the real estate section, based on the assumption that the context in which these texts appear is significant: a major newspaper is not a neutral vehicle, and ads and articles—consumed together, as they are in a print newspaper—will interact in creating representations of condominiums. The Condo Living section in particular is seen to perform a number of brand-like activities, most obviously in positioning the Toronto high-rise condominium as a dwelling that is particularly well-suited to young, middle-class women. This occurs partly as a function of the frequency with which women are portrayed as condominium owners. Beyond this, however, I show how the advertisements and articles in Condo Living help remake the public image of the condominium by countering existing stigmas attached to high-rise living. The section also helps to differentiate the condominium from other dwelling types by emphasizing elaborate amenities and making claims to urbanity through high-profile cultural and entertainment events. Perhaps most importantly, I demonstrate how the leading present-day design aesthetic—a reworking of midcentury modernisms—came to thoroughly dominate the image and the built form of the recent-era condominium. Positioning the condominium as a design-led dwelling type had profound implications: due to the links between design and high-end fashion, health and beauty items, the condominium immediately became a member of an aspirational product category associated with women, wealth, style and glamour. In addition to positioning the condominium as ‘naturally’ suited to young single, women, it removed the condo from direct competition with the single-family house, allowing it to be perceived as a desirable and distinct—rather than denigrated—dwelling type.

This research examines representations of condominiums in the real estate section of the Toronto Star from 1967 through 1997, and in the Star’s Condo Living section between 1997 and 2007. I depart from conventional approaches by evaluating the articles as well as the advertisements that comprise the real estate section, based on the assumption that the context in which these texts appear is significant: a major newspaper is not a neutral vehicle, and ads and articles—consumed together, as they are in a print newspaper—will interact in creating representations of condominiums. The Condo Living section in particular is seen to perform a number of brand-like activities, most obviously in positioning the Toronto high-rise condominium as a dwelling that is particularly well-suited to young, middle-class women. This occurs partly as a function of the frequency with which women are portrayed as condominium owners. Beyond this, however, I show how the advertisements and articles in Condo Living help remake the public image of the condominium by countering existing stigmas attached to high-rise living. The section also helps to differentiate the condominium from other dwelling types by emphasizing elaborate amenities and making claims to urbanity through high-profile cultural and entertainment events. Perhaps most importantly, I demonstrate how the leading present-day design aesthetic—a reworking of midcentury modernisms—came to thoroughly dominate the image and the built form of the recent-era condominium. Positioning the condominium as a design-led dwelling type had profound implications: due to the links between design and high-end fashion, health and beauty items, the condominium immediately became a member of an aspirational product category associated with women, wealth, style and glamour. In addition to positioning the condominium as ‘naturally’ suited to young single, women, it removed the condo from direct competition with the single-family house, allowing it to be perceived as a desirable and distinct—rather than denigrated—dwelling type.

The effect transit investments can have on surrounding land uses has been studied in planning literature. Often it is argued that high-density, more sustainable development occurs around stations on newly constructed transit lines. This study examines the impacts of the Yonge-University-Spadina line on development in the north ends of the city of Toronto. This study is guided by three objectives. First, the research aims to determine the extent of the differences in built form and densities between the two study sites. Second, the thesis explains why these differences have emerged and what factors have shaped the evolution of the two sites. Based on the first two analyses, the research provides recommendations to encourage intensified, transit-oriented development in areas that currently do not reflect these principles. A variety of methods are used to achieve these objectives including: an analysis of empirical census data, a comparison of land uses and built form through archive and current photographs, a property value comparison, a transit ridership analysis, a review of archive newspaper articles, an examination of previous and existing policy documents, and a review of previously conducted interviews with Toronto area developers and municipal officials. This study concludes that the Yonge line has experienced significantly more growth over time than the Spadina line. It finds that the policy provisions that dictate development along the Yonge line are much more conducive to intensified growth. As a result, recommendations are made that the city establishes a similar policy framework for land around the Spadina line so that obstacles to potential for intensified growth may be eliminated. More specifically, the thesis identifies contemporary monetary and policy incentives to developers to encourage sustainable development.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Toronto, 2005.

Thesis (LL.M.)-University of Toronto, 2005. / Cover title. Includes bibliographical references (p. 150-159).

Thesis (D. Min.)--Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, 1996. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 266-270).

Thesis (M.A.)--York University, 2007. Graduate Programme in Music. / Typescript. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 219-222). Also available on the Internet. MODE OF ACCESS via web browser by entering the following URL: http://gateway.proquest.com/openurl?url_ver=Z39.88-2004&res_dat=xri:pqdiss&rft_val_fmt=info:ofi/fmt:kev:mtx:dissertation&rft_dat=xri:pqdiss:MR31991

This study identifies permanence, the search for it and its attainment, as the most important variable influencing social, economic and demographic behaviour in rural society. The dissertation examines the interaction between families and land between 1820 and 1890 in a rural mid-Victorian Upper Canadian community, Toronto Gore township. The Gore of Toronto, one of the prime wheat producing townships in nineteenth century Ontario, is a wedge-shaped tract of land of some nineteen thousand acres situated fifteen miles northwest of Toronto. The theoretical underpinning for the study is Richard Easterlin's consumption/inheritance model for the behaviour of rural societies. This is butressed by historical studies of the American midwest as well as studies of rural Ontario by David Gagan, Marvin Mclnnis and Lorne Tepperman. These studies, as well as the data for Toronto Gore, are used to demonstrate that the processes of social change in rural society were related to incursions of economic stress arising out of land and population pressure. Stress was accompanied by demonstrable changes in demographic and economic behaviour at the household level. Toronto Gore was subjected to two forms of economic stress during the period. The first arose from agricultural change and the demands for land made by immigrants and a maturing younger generation. The second was a crisis of shorter term that began in 1857 with the collapse of the wheat market and was exacerbated two years later by a drastic decline in land values. In responding to these crises the younger generation postponed marriage and family formation. The older generation limited marital fertility and adopted devices for the distributuon of property that would protect the productivity and profitability of the land. These changes, which conform to the broad outlines of the Easterlin model and the actual historical experience of populations elsewhere, suggest that the Gore's households were not unusual in their behaviour. The major thrust of the dissertation, however, is that permanence was the most important variable influencing the timing and degree of change. The foundation for permanence was laid during the settlement phase when approximately one hundred families put down roots. Three generations later most of those families were still represented among the township's householders. Others have identified core populations during the settlement phase but thus far no one has systematically studied their behaviour. For Toronto Gore, techniques of family reconstitution developed by French and English demographers are used to reconstruct the population and family relationships. In three generations, intermarriage knit the permanent families into a cohesive group. They owned the largest farms, had the largest households, and were the leaders of the principal social and political institutions. Their children had the best opportunities of acquiring places for themsleves in the township. They maintained their relative prosperity because,. as a group, they were more sensitive to economic change. In times of economic stress they reacted quickly to protect what they had. Their neighbours responded much more slowly and adjustments in their demographic behaviour appeared almost a decade later. / Thesis / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)