The Ugly Canada Thread

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

This cancer that has overwhelmed London. Fugly temporary/rentable signage:

looksigns.ca

I don't remember seeing them in Montreal. I was shocked at how ubiquitous they are in London. Beyond ugly.

We have them in Calgary too. The best is when someone re-arranges the letters to spell something dirty.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

WOW.

The power of the clocktower just got stronger with the addition of the Tempo. A Harbinger of the Lavalization of the world.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Acajack

They have employees (that can actually help you) at Canadian Tire aside from the cashiers?

I fear you are asking for the impossible. There is no such thing as a helpful Canadian Tire Salesclerk.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

I fear you are asking for the impossible. There is no such thing as a helpful Canadian Tire Salesclerk.

I'd be happy to just be able to find a CT salesclerk. He doesn't even have to be helpful!

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Acajack

I'd be happy to just be able to find a CT salesclerk. He doesn't even have to be helpful!

Remember this Turkey (aka the most hated man in Canada) and his equally-contemptible wife?

rectumtire

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[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Ontario also has a thing for traffic pylons. The MTO never misses an opportunity to display these fuglies. They actually enjoy putting them out for no apparent reason. I — hate them.

gazette

And why do they leave out on the roads for so long after the road work is completed? I am talking weeks and sometimes even months, not days.

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

This cancer that has overwhelmed London. Fugly temporary/rentable signage:
[IMG]http://www.looksigns.ca/wp-

Yeah, there aren't really many at all in Gatineau either. I wonder if it's a municipal bylaw thing or if it's just because French words and sentences tend to be longer so it's not as useful an advertising medium.

In an event, they are a scourge on suburban roads in Ottawa burbs like Orleans, Barrhaven, Nepean, Kanata...

I think there was talk of banning them but so far it has not happened AFAIK.

[niwell]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

We have them in Calgary too. The best is when someone re-arranges the letters to spell something dirty.

I remember growing up in Calgary it was still legal to have these signs on public property, or at least public rights-of-way for major roads. Vivid memories of the median / grass shoulders of Crowchild Tr in the NW (then only 4 lanes) simply lined by temporary signage for private businesses. It was very refreshing when they were banned.

Of course you can still have them on private property. There's one near me in Parkdale that has the letters rearranged on an almost daily basis. Think it may be intentional at this point.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by SkahHigh

Some more affluent cities have banned them, but seriously this should be banned province-wide... What an eyesore.

I agree those Tempos are hideous, but as someone without a garage I secretly want one.

Of course, that thing would get shredded in a week by the winds we get out here.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by Acajack

And why do they leave out on the roads for so long after the road work is completed? I am talking weeks and sometimes even months, not days.

even years. I tell you, they love those fugly things. They put em out. Leave them out. take them away just as a bait and switch--and bam!--they are back again. Even with no outward evidence of construction.


Growing up, you knew when Xmas was coming just by the annoying Canadian Tire commercials. They ran these ads for centuries. Spend like Santa, Save like Scrooge. You could set your watch to it.

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[Daveography]

Edmonton mulled banning temporary signs a number of years ago, but of course the backlash from businesses put the kaibosh to that idea very quickly.

[O-tacular]

Not sure if this is a chain out east or not but Ricky's has become the 21st Century Humpties. The blight of strip malls everywhere. I took this pic a couple years ago of one with a funny burnt out sign.

[MolsonExport]

^restaurants of that sort are a reflection of the banality of contemporary North American suburban food culture. Ubiquitous in Power Centres. Completely contrived/stupid names, same décor, —, overpriced pub grub. Moxie's. Boston Pizza. Kelsey's. Jack Astor's. Milestones. Turtle Jack's. (what/who the — is a turtle jack? Why not Jack Turtle's?)

They are — everywhere. The Miltonization of the Universe strikes again.

[flipv]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

Remember this Turkey (aka the most hated man in Canada) and his equally-contemptible wife?

rectumtire

• Video Link

CT has/had — commercials.

Zellers though.. I still remember this one vividly. Genius.

• Video Link

[niwell]

Originally Posted by MolsonExport

^restaurants of that sort are a reflection of the banality of contemporary North American suburban food culture. Ubiquitous in Power Centres. Completely contrived/stupid names, same décor, —, overpriced pub grub. Moxie's. Boston Pizza. Kelsey's. Jack Astor's. Milestones. Turtle Jack's. (what/who the — is a turtle jack? Why not Jack Turtle's?)

Even worse. Overpriced pre-made Sysco food (or similar).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sysco

[Daveography]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Not sure if this is a chain out east or not but Ricky's has become the 21st Century Humpties. The blight of strip malls everywhere. I took this pic a couple years ago of one with a funny burnt out sign.

Haha, Ricky's is just awful. I had the worst experience at one up in Fort Saskatchewan; I won't go into too much detail, except to say that when we voiced our complaints about the food and service to the manager, her response was to literally say "sorry" over and over while she backed away from us until she was out of sight.

And that was the entirety of her response.

And this was after we had told her we were there to get some breakfast the day after my mom had just passed away unexpectedly.

It was unreal.

Also, the Ricky's at Edmonton City Centre had their "R" burned out for several months. That's right, nothing says "come enjoy some food at our establishment" like having your place called "icky's"

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by niwell

I remember growing up in Calgary it was still legal to have these signs on public property, or at least public rights-of-way for major roads. Vivid memories of the median / grass shoulders of Crowchild Tr in the NW (then only 4 lanes) simply lined by temporary signage for private businesses. It was very refreshing when they were banned.

Of course you can still have them on private property. There's one near me in Parkdale that has the letters rearranged on an almost daily basis. Think it may be intentional at this point.

Those signs don't even bother me that much. You see them in communities and by schools mostly. The absolute worst form of advertising is those air dancers. Nothing says terrible, unexciting product sale like those giant waving dildos.








Haha found this while searching air dancer images.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Daveography

Haha, Ricky's is just awful. I had the worst experience at one up in Fort Saskatchewan; I won't go into too much detail, except to say that when we voiced our complaints about the food and service to the manager, her response was to literally say "sorry" over and over while she backed away from us until she was out of sight.

And that was the entirety of her response.

And this was after we had told her we were there to get some breakfast the day after my mom had just passed away unexpectedly.

It was unreal.

Also, the Ricky's at Edmonton City Centre had their "R" burned out for several months. That's right, nothing says "come enjoy some food at our establishment" like having your place called "icky's"

Icky indeed.

[O-tacular]

Even uglier...

[Mister F]

• Video Link

Someone had to post it.