The Ugly Canada Thread

[O-tacular]

Just returned to Calgary and already miss the Okanagan. That said here'a some ugly:

3 Banks in one intersection. Do the full 360 and you'll see another BMO bunker beside BDC credit. Best street in DT Kelowna except for this part. The joke in Calgary whenever there are new CRU's in the podiums of new buildings is that a bank will come and buy them all and destroy any hope of streetlife. This street in Kelowna survives well in spite of these fortresses.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.8862974,-...mxHSS0ucRw1cg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

This Old Dutch potato chip house:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.8956951,-...WNTKZRaUCrDdQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

[O-tacular]

I think Les Residences Soleil should look at expanding into Kelowna. The old people population is probably higher than anywhere else in the country. It's like Canada's Florida.

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Just returned to Calgary and already miss the Okanagan. That said here'a some ugly:

3 Banks in one intersection. Do the full 360 and you'll see another BMO bunker beside BDC credit. Best street in DT Kelowna except for this part. The joke in Calgary whenever there are new CRU's in the podiums of new buildings is that a bank will come and buy them all and destroy any hope of streetlife. This street in Kelowna survives well in spite of these fortresses.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@49.8862974,-...mxHSS0ucRw1cg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656!6m1!1e1

I actually really like that BMO building. The CIBC building is good looking but I can see how it isn't a nice presence in dt. The BDC though, holy — does that look straight out of a 70s paradise.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Franco401

I actually really like that BMO building. The CIBC building is good looking but I can see how it isn't a nice presence in dt. The BDC though, holy — does that look straight out of a 70s paradise.

My point was more that if it weren't for the one coffee shop that entire intersection would be a complete dead zone. There should be laws that banks can't cluster together on important thoroughfares. Not just for Kelowna but everywhere. They're dead zones 90% of the time.

[eemy]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

My point was more that if it weren't for the one coffee shop that entire intersection would be a complete dead zone. There should be laws that banks can't cluster together on important thoroughfares. Not just for Kelowna but everywhere. They're dead zones 90% of the time.

Kind of like this intersection?

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

Kind of like this intersection?

Yep. Somehow that one is less offensive than in Kelowna though where it sits smack dab in the middle of the nightclubs and restaurants leading away from the lakefront (as opposed to being connected to the giant bank towers in DT Toronto). It's smack dab in the middle of the city's major activity centre. I still am mistified that BMO requires not just one, but two buildings at this intersection.

That reminds me though of our last day there where we went for gelato at a place that closed at 5:00 on a 33 degree day with people lined up. We tried eating it on the beautiful outdoor patio only to be shooed away by the girl working there as she chained up and stacked all the tables and chairs. We had to walk for 2 blocks to find a single bench to sit on as there IS NO STREET FURNITURE the entire block in front of the Delta Grand. It's incomprehensible.

[Rumors]

My photo.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Rumors

My photo.

Where is this prison?

[flipv]

I rather like Place Bonaventure. Yes the outside is unforgiving but there's something to be said about that level of brutalism.

[Franco401]

Originally Posted by flipv

I rather like Place Bonaventure. Yes the outside is unforgiving but there's something to be said about that level of brutalism.

The constant hate many people have for anything even remotely brutalist would be solved if landlords would just take a power-washer to the exterior and make them much brighter.

[scryer]

Originally Posted by Rumors

My photo.

Where is this prison?

TBH, a really skilled architect could re-furbish and make that thing stunning. I don't know if anyone else see's it but I do see potential. Maybe even add a tower?

[O-tacular]

Saw this yesterday.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by scryer

Where is this prison?

TBH, a really skilled architect could re-furbish and make that thing stunning. I don't know if anyone else see's it but I do see potential. Maybe even add a tower?

I actually like the massing, but as was pointed out by franco the dirty concrete is very ugly. Not sure I'd add a tower on top but put some metal panels on part of it to lighten it up and it could be better.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Saw this yesterday.

horrible. Fugly truck, with jingoism, in a soulless cookie-cutter suburb. Probably the driver is prematurely balding, with a goatee, and a porker girlfriend/wife. McDonald's three times a week. Likes Trump, Sun Media, and Ezra Levant.

[MolsonExport]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

I think Les Residences Soleil should look at expanding into Kelowna. The old people population is probably higher than anywhere else in the country. It's like Canada's Florida.

hmmm, I smell a great storyline for a photoshop...I can see it now. Knox mountain and/or Harvey Avenue (possibly the ugliest boulevard in world history, except maybe for Taschereau blvd. in Longueuil/Brosssard) in the background. Clockzilla. The old fart couple and their Depends. Maybe a Michael's thrown in for good measure.

Hell, maybe Clockzilla and Ogopogo can battle it out for the souls of the Okanagan.I know where I'd wager my money...

Edit: come to think of it, I do believe there is a Smitty's or two out in the Okanagan. Certainly there is one where I used to live in Osoyoos (also spent 1.5 years in some stinky armpit town halfway between Kelowna and Vernon, by the name of Winfield).

[O-tacular]

Molson! You're back. Any interesting pics from China?

Sadly that truck is less obnoxious than many on my block. For starters it isn't lifted 8 feet off the ground with giant knobby tires that aren't ever needed for anything outside a battlefield. The American flag being hoisted beside the Canadian flag for I assume Canada Day is kinda funny though. If you look closely there's also stickers saying he's an Afghanistan and Iraq war vet. Either he volunteered as a Canadian for Iraq (—) or he's a dual citizen / former 'Murican.

[MolsonExport]

plenty of great China pix...once i find time to upload to photoshop and repost. I had a great time. Plenty of ugly, but much beauty as well. Certainly not a single pick up truck in the entire country, from what I could see. Insanely awesome HSR everywhere.

[TownGuy]

Saw a truck with this on it yesterday.

[SignalHillHiker]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Saw this yesterday.

Lots of that here - I don't even think to photograph it. Happen to have a couple taken over the past two days for unrelated reasons, though...





*****

Speaking of vehicles and stickers...



Also saw TWO separate lifted trucks recently with "Silly Boys, Trucks are for GIRLS!"

We need to cut our ties with the oil patch before even camo wedding dresses show up here.

[esquire]

Place Bonaventure definitely does not belong in this thread.