The Great Canadian Skyline Thread!

[Metro-One]

I feel its because whenever an image of Edmonton is shown or whenever Edmonton is mentioned everyone gives it their "pity" compliment because of an incorrect notion that Edmonton is always in need of a "pick me up."

The same thing happens for Hamilton, everyone always gives it the pity clap. Even if the most terrible picture ever is posted of Hamilton, someone will say its great and so underrated blah blah blah.

On the other hand people are hesitant to compliment Calgary because it honestly has been doing well recently (in a more visible way than Edmonton) and does have a lot to boast about in regards to prosperity. I feel this is the same reason why people also act strange towards Vancouver at times as well because its positives are super visible (such as those regarding its natural setting / environment, etc...), so people get defensive and feel the need to beat it down a little (even if this is a little subconscious). While Toronto does suffer the same as Calgary and Vancouver, it has sooo many members representing it that the nay sayers get super drowned out by the supporters. Calgary and Vancouver are not as lucky, the nay sayers can and do often over power the civic boosters, who then have to civic boost to obnoxious levels (myself included at times) to try and level the field.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I feel its because whenever an image of Edmonton is shown or whenever Edmonton is mentioned everyone gives it their "pity" compliment because of an incorrect notion that Edmonton is always in need of a "pick me up."

The same thing happens for Hamilton, everyone always gives it the pity clap. Even if the most terrible picture ever is posted of Hamilton, someone will say its great and so underrated blah blah blah.

On the other hand people are hesitant to compliment Calgary because it honestly has been doing well recently (in a more visible way than Edmonton) and does have a lot to boast about in regards to prosperity. I feel this is the same reason why people also act strange towards Vancouver at times as well because its positives are super visible (such as those regarding its natural setting / environment, etc...), so people get defensive and feel the need to beat it down a little (even if this is a little subconscious). While Toronto does suffer the same as Calgary and Vancouver, it has sooo many members representing it that the nay sayers get super drowned out by the supporters. Calgary and Vancouver are not as lucky, the nay sayers can and do often over power the civic boosters, who then have to civic boost to obnoxious levels (myself included at times) to try and level the field.

Not a bad theory. I'd also add that I've always thought Montreal gets a bit of a love top-up (also subconsciously) from some people because there is a sensitivity on the part of some Canadaisn to not appear to be anti-francophone or anti-Quebec.

Kind of like how some bien-pensant Americans feel compelled to say that Michelle Obama is beautiful. (Whether she is or not is completely irrelevant - it's a matter of personal opinion.)

Holy cow am I ever non-PC for a Monday morning...

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Not a bad theory. I'd also add that I've always thought Montreal gets a bit of a love top-up (also subconsciously) from some people because there is a sensitivity on the part of some Canadaisn to not appear to be anti-francophone or anti-Quebec.

Kind of like how some bien-pensant Americans feel compelled to say that Michelle Obama is beautiful. (Whether she is or not is completely irrelevant - it's a matter of personal opinion.)

Holy cow am I ever non-PC for a Monday morning...

I was thinking this but was hesitant to say it

Ottawa is the one that is always there, not very loud but cute, never in trouble but never showing off, so people tend to not feel strongly towards it one way or the other. It is not offensive, people are rarely jealous, it is not boastful, its economy is never booming (visibly) but it is also never doing bad so it avoids the pity remarks as well.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I was thinking this but was hesitant to say it
.

I mean, Montreal does have a whole bunch of things that city-lovers especially are fond of, but it also has some major flaws as well.

Also, there has got to be some frustration (which we rarely hear, strangely) on the part of city-lovers at having a city like Montreal in your country that has, warts and all, a lot of that good stuff, but that's at least semi-inaccessible as a place to settle down, for the reasons we all know.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I feel its because whenever an image of Edmonton is shown or whenever Edmonton is mentioned everyone gives it their "pity" compliment because of an incorrect notion that Edmonton is always in need of a "pick me up."

If you're far from Alberta and relying on this section for your info you might not even be aware that Edmonton exists. Seems like there's absolutely nothing going on there that ever reaches the Canada section... while if you look at population, assuming an equal number of SSPers per capita, I would expect about as many active Edmontonians as Calgarians on here.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I mean, Montreal does have a whole bunch of things that city-lovers especially are fond of, but it also has some major flaws as well.

Also, there has got to be some frustration (which we rarely hear, strangely) on the part of city-lovers at having a city like Montreal in your country that has, warts and all, a lot of that good stuff, but that's at least semi-inaccessible as a place to settle down, for the reasons we all know.

Good points.

I was actually going to make a post once (forget which thread and how long ago) but decided against it that went along the lines that in Canada my favorite city to live in is Victoria. If it were not for the language barrier it would maybe be Quebec city though (But then again, climate also plays a strong factor in Victoria's favour for me).

PS: I don't want to start a city vs. city thing here again.

And yeah, the Calgary forum members are more active than those from Edmonton on here, but now that Edmonton has some pretty massive projects underway I am sure we will see more activity on the Canadian section from them in the near future. I feel it has already warmed up a little.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Christ this thread is Chaddish.

To be fair, he didn't do much this time but I still find that a totally disproportionate amount of the arguments in the Canada section have their source in Calgarians being "rubbed the wrong way" by remarks that should've been harmless (IMO).

I personally don't mind the discussion (I would avoid it otherwise) because it's a discussion forum after all, and if all you want to see is pictures, you can easily skip the text and scroll down and see only pictures.

Plus it was generally impressively civil this time. I think I saw only one insult overall and I can easily shrug these off.

[SignalHillHiker]

I think it's just a reflection of our section. We have our own regional and personal squabbles. Cities go through phases of high profiles followed by backlash in this section, especially if they have daily posters like me, or sheer numbers like Toronto. Calgary is just in the midst of that right now.

It gets breathless, fawning reviews from the Americans in the My City Photos section.

I don't think Edmonton is actually that far behind Calgary in profile outside of SSP. And given its proximity to Toronto, Hamilton has quite a significant profile across Canada. Certainly more than other big, non-TO cities in southern Ontario.

As for Montreal - I don't think anglophone Canadians care as much about francophone feelings as people think. If it was 🞵🞵🞵🞵, I'd certainly have no problem saying so. Perhaps it's just Ottawa's unique position in the country that makes the English-French relationship loom large there? It's really a non-issue here. Most folks couldn't be arsed to care.

I think Montreal gets so much love because it's a great city. It has everything - an old core, modern towers, incredible urbanity, strong identity and presence. Even grit and the romance of dirty politics.

It might be unfair or a bit much - same as TO gets way more criticism than it should - but I'll eat my shoe if it's in any way a reflection of wanting to play nice with the Québécois.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by SignalHillHiker

As for Montreal - I don't think anglophone Canadians care as much about francophone feelings as people think. If it was 🞵🞵🞵🞵, I'd certainly have no problem saying so. Perhaps it's just Ottawa's unique position in the country that makes the English-French relationship loom large there? It's really a non-issue here. Most folks couldn't be arsed to care.

I think Montreal gets so much love because it's a great city. It has everything - an old core, modern towers, incredible urbanity, strong identity and presence. Even grit and the romance of dirty politics.

It might be unfair or a bit much - same as TO gets way more criticism than it should - but I'll eat my shoe if it's in any way a reflection of wanting to play nice with the Québécois.

Could be. I agree with you about Montreal's qualities. I don't think it's a significant factor, as I said, I think it might be a bit of top-up, that's all.

[travis3000]

I personally love Montreal. Always have. Their skyline is charming, and while it lacks some of the big buildings of Toronto and Calgary, it still impresses with the bridges, Mont Royal, the old buildings and churches, density, etc. IMO people in Montreal have nothing to be ashamed about. They live in the most unique big city in Canada. The language barrier makes the city what it is. And because of that I choose to spend my hard earned money visiting the city every year, sometimes multiple times.

And for skyline purposes, it's not like Montreal has a bad skyline. Taken from atop Mont Royal the skyline looks fairly impressive. IMO the city could use a couple 250m towers but hey, what can you do. The magic in that city has always been on the ground.

[SkahHigh]

Originally Posted by lio45

To be fair, he didn't do much this time but I still find that a totally disproportionate amount of the arguments in the Canada section have their source in Calgarians being "rubbed the wrong way" by remarks that should've been harmless (IMO).

I personally don't mind the discussion (I would avoid it otherwise) because it's a discussion forum after all, and if all you want to see is pictures, you can easily skip the text and scroll down and see only pictures.

Plus it was generally impressively civil this time. I think I saw only one insult overall and I can easily shrug these off.

This one was partly started by me, I admit it, but then Chad proceeded to rub salt in the wound so...

Originally Posted by Acajack

Not a bad theory. I'd also add that I've always thought Montreal gets a bit of a love top-up (also subconsciously) from some people because there is a sensitivity on the part of some Canadaisn to not appear to be anti-francophone or anti-Quebec.

Most of us honestly wouldn't think that... If so, then it's being paranoid... Montreal has suffered from the language barrier for a long period of time, but finding Montreal's skyline unappealing or underwhelming is in no way anti-francophone.

[vanatox]

Originally Posted by yaletown_fella

I think Vancouver's is the biggest in Canada. But Im not sure if all the space is in use. It looks like a great set for a horror film.

Montreal's cane sugar refinery produces 440 000 -600 000 tonnes of sugar per year while Vancouver's produces 240 000 tonnes per year. The headquarter of Lantic/Rogers is also in Montreal.

Redpath produces about 500 000 tonnes of sugar per year. So Montreal's and Toronto's have about the same production capacity

http://www.lanticinc.com/en/facilities

http://asr-group.com/our-brands/redpath/index.html

[DarthMalgus]

Originally Posted by Beedok

Don't read, just look at the pretty pictures. That's mostly what I do.

Good advice!

[Rico Rommheim]

Originally Posted by vanatox

Montreal's cane sugar refinery produces 440 000 -600 000 tonnes of sugar per year while Vancouver's produces 240 000 tonnes per year. The headquarter of Lantic/Rogers is also in Montreal.

Redpath produces about 500 000 tonnes of sugar per year. So Montreal's and Toronto's have about the same production capacity

http://www.lanticinc.com/en/facilities

http://asr-group.com/our-brands/redpath/index.html

Good to hear that Montreal didn't lose all of its sugar refinement. Always wondered why Redpath sugar suddendly left town in the 50's, after a hundred years in town, and all the splendors and legacy the Redpath family gave the city. I guess the St-lawrence seaway was responsible for this?

[Martin Mtl]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Good to hear that Montreal didn't lose all of its sugar refinement. Always wondered why Redpath sugar suddendly left town in the 50's, after a hundred years in town, and all the splendors and legacy the Redpath family gave the city. I guess the St-lawrence seaway was responsible for this?

The old Redpath refinery made wonderful condos though

[vanatox]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

Good to hear that Montreal didn't lose all of its sugar refinement. Always wondered why Redpath sugar suddendly left town in the 50's, after a hundred years in town, and all the splendors and legacy the Redpath family gave the city. I guess the St-lawrence seaway was responsible for this?

From what I read, Toronto's refinery was built at the same time of the St-Lawrence seaway. In 1980, Montreal's old refinery was closed and production was shipped to Toronto. Redpath has only one refinery in Canada now.

Montreal also has a very important food processing industry.

[SkahHigh]

Montreal / Montréal by gelinas_diane, on Flickr

[Boris2k7]

Calgary looked really pretty on Friday, with some fresh snow.


Calgary Skyline by Tim M. Shephard, on Flickr

[bulliver]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

I feel its because whenever an image of Edmonton is shown or whenever Edmonton is mentioned everyone gives it their "pity" compliment because of an incorrect notion that Edmonton is always in need of a "pick me up."

Originally Posted by leo45;

If you're far from Alberta and relying on this section for your info you might not even be aware that Edmonton exists. Seems like there's absolutely nothing going on there that ever reaches the Canada section... while if you look at population, assuming an equal number of SSPers per capita, I would expect about as many active Edmontonians as Calgarians on here.

FWIW I used to post my Edmonton skyline shots here and they were either ignored, or as Metro mentioned, given patronizing "good job Edmonton, keep working at it" comments, so I stopped bothering.

Can't speak for the other Edmonton posters, but personally I stopped giving a damn what the rest of Canada thinks of us years ago.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Calgary looked really pretty on Friday, with some fresh snow.


Calgary Skyline by Tim M. Shephard, on Flickr

Very interesting shot.