The Ugly Canada Thread

[kirjtc2]

Originally Posted by Franco401

Some classic Fredericton uglies:

I'm pretty sure that's real stucco, but still...
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.9634523,-...sYQ!2e0!5s20130701T000000!7i13312!8i6656

An ode to a city that was still doing Pomo in 2012...
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.9645489,-...7kw!2e0!5s20130701T000000!7i13312!8i6656

Our best competitor for Résidences Soleil:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.9600562,-...VrRiaXVM7CEM6x4kZOiXw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Somehow the ugliest building on a block that includes Kings Place:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.9601643,-...p4w!2e0!5s20130701T000000!7i13312!8i6656

No love for the hospital?
https://www.google.ca/maps/@45.9397892,-...1qM_tJX5VM_EL25JF8fIA!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

As an added bonus - it's right at the top of the hill so you can see it from the whole city!

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lio45

I see a huge difference though - the architecture in the Alberta example posted is horrific, indescribably bland.

A random Great Plains town's main street would indeed have the exact same kind of volumetry as Hanna (large street without divider, 45-degree parking, continuous two-story mixed use wall of rowbuildings on each side) but the quality of the architecture is much better, which IMO makes a ton of difference.

Random example:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@35.074926,-9...XtED3jIhYHhB98Fi50wgg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

What Hanna has to offer in terms of architecture would qualify as thoroughly soul-sucking in comparison.

P.S. I recommend having a Nickelback soundtrack playing in the background while you're exploring Hanna with Google Streeview.

Some members of Nickelback are from Hanna! As is Lanny Macdonald.

[lio45]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Some members of Nickelback are from Hanna!

Well of course - why else would I have suggested that?

SSP has turned me into a Nickelback expert, thanks to MolsonEx.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Given that there's hundreds of tiny little towns in Alberta that are barely over a century old, it should surprise nobody that very few of them have anything to offer. Still, for every dozen Hanna's out there, there's a Lacombe.

Google has some beautiful shots of their main street. All these years driving the QE2 and I've never stopped there! Had no idea. Sure makes up for Dead Deer! I'll have to stop there on my next trip up north.

[Boris2k7]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Google has some beautiful shots of their main street. All these years driving the QE2 and I've never stopped there! Had no idea. Sure makes up for Dead Deer! I'll have to stop there on my next trip up north.

Well that's a problem with the QE2. Highway 2A was the original highway between Edmonton and Calgary, and it runs through a number of small towns, but it's much slower to drive.

[DrJoe]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Given that there's hundreds of tiny little towns in Alberta that are barely over a century old, it should surprise nobody that very few of them have anything to offer. Still, for every dozen Hanna's out there, there's a Lacombe.

It's not so much their age it's the era they developed in. They're never going to be anything to write home about. Even Lamcombe is a giant meh.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by DrJoe

It's not so much their age it's the era they developed in. They're never going to be anything to write home about. Even Lamcombe is a giant meh.

How is someone from Toronto an expert on small towns in Alberta?

[Airboy]

Originally Posted by Boris2k7

Well that's a problem with the QE2. Highway 2A was the original highway between Edmonton and Calgary, and it runs through a number of small towns, but it's much slower to drive.

Drive 2A is sometimes a more enjoyable option between YEG and YYC. plus Lacombe is place to stop for a beer at Blindman Brewing.

Most prairie small towns were built along with the railways. Whistle stops. Wood construction because it was plentiful. just doesn't last long. Towns like Lacombe, Wainwright, Vegreville were more the regional centres and Immigration points. those towns were able to bring in more robust building material.

[DrJoe]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

How is someone from Toronto an expert on small towns in Alberta?

So are you going to dispute what I said or just leave it at that?

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by lio45

I see a huge difference though - the architecture in the Alberta example posted is horrific, indescribably bland.

A random Great Plains town's main street would indeed have the exact same kind of volumetry as Hanna (large street without divider, 45-degree parking, continuous two-story mixed use wall of rowbuildings on each side) but the quality of the architecture is much better, which IMO makes a ton of difference.

Random example:
https://www.google.ca/maps/@35.074926,-9...XtED3jIhYHhB98Fi50wgg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

What Hanna has to offer in terms of architecture would qualify as thoroughly soul-sucking in comparison.

P.S. I recommend having a Nickelback soundtrack playing in the background while you're exploring Hanna with Google Streeview.

I've noticed this too. I think it might have something to do with the fact that most of the U.S. Great Plains was settled about 50 years or so before the Canadian Prairies were. Obviously there are some exceptions going in either direction but in general the U.S. towns have more ornate architecture. Even if it's sometimes faded or even falling apart.

You also sometimes find this contrast between central-eastern Canada and the NE US, even if in the latter case some of the cities are horribly damaged. But the old glory is still apparent if you look for it.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Beautiful Hanna AB:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.6418513,-...Eey8rYxEJbJ7pgHJInxag!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.643281,-1...zCFCL2zNB7ifVQ_vEC6xw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.6426592,-...iNYotPPTqSvkj4RGRqzyQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

How's this for a botched renovation to a historic building:

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.6427692,-...yxHJC1h7CXXRO2sNSlr7Q!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

https://www.google.ca/maps/@51.6392381,-...R3WK9trJ7DCbLjeNLdaBw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

There's actually something in its absolute desolation that is almost beautiful.

Hanna had more money and population than the town my great-great grandfather settled and built. 2,200 people versus 1,000 people located north of Hanna.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.2193247,-...1TZdKxyrHQ6kR2Waejb9w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Xelebes

Hanna had more money and population than the town my great-great grandfather settled and built. 2,200 people versus 1,000 people located north of Hanna.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.2193247,-...1TZdKxyrHQ6kR2Waejb9w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Yikes that's just as bleak.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.2182917,-..._-I82PSjYKimyXq_ttHbw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Ah Value Drugmart. Them and IGA are the true markers of small towns.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by DrJoe

So are you going to dispute what I said or just leave it at that?

I'm genuinely curious about all the towns you've seen. As someone from Alberta I have often been surprised by some of the neat old towns in the middle of nowhere. More often than not they are depressing as sin though.

[theman23]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

I'm genuinely curious about all the towns you've seen. As someone from Alberta I have often been surprised by some of the neat old towns in the middle of nowhere. More often than not they are depressing as sin though.

You don't need to have lived in Alberta to know that most Alberta towns look like they're still in the dust bowl.

[DrJoe]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

I'm genuinely curious about all the towns you've seen. As someone from Alberta I have often been surprised by some of the neat old towns in the middle of nowhere. More often than not they are depressing as sin though.

Are you after a list or something?

You keep echoing what I said even though you took offense to it. Most are awful and there is the odd diamond in the rough. You just said it yourself.

[Xelebes]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Yikes that's just as bleak.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.2182917,-..._-I82PSjYKimyXq_ttHbw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Ah Value Drugmart. Them and IGA are the true markers of small towns.

Hasn't been so nice for Castor. Once they pulled the railroad out of the town, it had lost about 200 people.

[Proof Sheet]

Originally Posted by O-tacular

Yikes that's just as bleak.

https://www.google.ca/maps/@52.2182917,-..._-I82PSjYKimyXq_ttHbw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

Ah Value Drugmart. Them and IGA are the true markers of small towns.

One thing I notice is the high % of domestic cars on that street. Much higher than a town in southern Ontario or Quebec would be I believe.

[240glt]

^ that's most of Alberta, Edmonton is an F-150 town through & through

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by 240glt

^ that's most of Alberta, Edmonton is an F-150 town through & through

Calgary too though I also see many Tundras and Titans in addition to the domestic ones. I would guess F-1-350's are #1 followed by RAMS.

[TownGuy]

This got me thinking which town around here (Cobourg) has the ugliest downtown and it's definitely Trenton.

Https://goo.gl/maps/fsn9sbX47EU2

Now to be a homer Cobourg has a pretty nice downtown
https://goo.gl/maps/DY8ZJA5DsbF2