CBC Archives

Explain that the suburbs brought a whole new set of values to Canadian society. Central to these values was a return to the role of the traditional family. Ask: What changes would the idea of the traditional family have on life in the suburbs? Ask students to work with a partner and describe what life would be like for children, mothers, and fathers in the suburbs. Invite students to share their ideas.

Direct students to the topic So Long Cities, Hello Suburbs on the CBC Radio and Television Archives Web site. Students should review Clips # 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 to research in what ways the new values could be seen in the suburbs, for example, “stay-at-home” moms and “bread-winning” fathers. Working with the original partners, students create a visual that reflects these changing values.

Gather the class and have students present their visuals. Discuss the values reflected in each. Develop a list of beliefs that students think those visuals show.

Discuss the extent to which these values are still important in suburbs today.

Students can do further research to see how magazines, television, and radio reflected the values that were important in suburbs. Write a research paper explaining to what extent these values were reflected across all segments of society.