"dynamic", "Can-do": Haven't heard these as much since oil prices went into the toilet (concomitantly, certain forumers being a bit more quiet). Thankfully, because it had reached nauseating proportions from certain posters.
BC's "Best place on Earth" slogan was the most explicitly obnoxious official boosterism in living memory.
The snootiness of Montrealers regarding Toronto/Ontario (particularly the culture/vibrancy, or perceived lack thereof) is legendary, especially among my home tribe of Anglo-Quebeckers. Towards Canadians living in 'lesser cities', some Torontonians (particularly their media, e.g., the TSN [Toronto Sports Network]) project a phony cosmopolitanism a la New York. When I lived in BC, many Vancouverites deried the rest of the country as frigid, boring, and non-scenic. If you thought otherwise, they would try to make you drink more of the "Best stuff[place] on earth" Koolaid.
Nobody in London (Ontario) tries to convince you it is the best place to live. We know that it is not. At best, a twist on that old saying "London is a great place to live, but I wouldn't want to visit there."
The most annoying boosters of Calgary and AB are people who weren't born here. Chad being a prime example.
As for "dynamic" cities did you see my streetview tour of Hanna from a few pages back? lio had a good suggestion for a soundtrack to listen to while you explore it.
In Saskatoon it's east side (affluent) vs. west side (poor trash and thugs) with a small third dynamic with the north end. Northenders are affluent like the eastsiders, but the eastsiders think they're a bit off, being all alone up there like that.
Not being native to Saskatoon, I roll my eyes and laugh.
Then there's the "City kids" (Saskatoon and Regina) vs. the "Country kids". As if a Saskatonian is inherently so much more urbane. If you grew up in Saskatoon and your family is a couple generations deep in the province, there's almost no way you're not 1 degree of separation from a family farm or some redneck relatives that you don't like to talk about.
Calgary's ghetto is the NE. Technically Forest lawn is SE but it's right at the border. There's also Ogden in the SE aswell so in general it's anything north of Glenmore and east of Deerfoot. Bowness in the NW also qualifies though it's slowly gentrifying.
And that's it's too white and doesn't have enough diversity (especially not enough Asians).
Victoria was amazing on my trip there this summer. I could see if all you care about is clubbing it you might find it boring. But I loved it walking around the DT and pier areas at night. It is very white. Like I've never seen a city that size with so few minorities. It's also got a lot of old people. Then there's university students. It's mostly an odd mix of retirees and 20 somethings. Apparently it also has the most Satanists of anywhere in the country. So much so that apparently when my brother in law was born there in the early 80's amidst the hysteria of Satanic cults abducting babies there were guards posted outside the delivery ward.
Victoria was amazing on my trip there this summer. I could see if all you care about is clubbing it you might find it boring. But I loved it walking around the DT and pier areas at night. It is very white. Like I've never seen a city that size with so few minorities. It's also got a lot of old people. Then there's university students. It's mostly an odd mix of retirees and 20 somethings. Apparently it also has the most Satanists of anywhere in the country. So much so that apparently when my brother in law was born there in the early 80's amidst the hysteria of Satanic cults abducting babies there were guards posted outside the delivery ward.
Oh, I like Victoria too. But people will always find something to criticize.
Both of the criticisms I levelled at Victoria I find to be "non sequiturs".
This thread is reminding me of my moment (the only one, I hope) as one of "those people". I was standing with a very international group at a roof-top bar in Costa Rica and the bar owner, originally from Saskatchewan, explained to the group that he was from "the centre of Canada". I guffawed and, without thinking, said "first time I've ever heard Saskatchewan described as the centre of anything|" You could have made ice cubes with the look he shot me. I felt so bad, but still chuckle when I remember it.
I find myself explaining it that way to people abroad quite often. Usually I'll say that I'm "right in the middle" after they ask me if I'm from Toronto or Vancouver.
It is very white. Like I've never seen a city that size with so few minorities.
Perceptions may be skewed by the sheer number of tourists? Statistics Canada's visible minority data places Victoria pretty much right in the middle among the various CMAs that have populations of a few hundred thousand.
In Toronto the alpha city snootiness is faintly ridiculous because the city doesn't have the pull or stature of a New York or London. Though my impression is that most people in Toronto are aware enough of this so as to have a fairly measured sense of how much condescension might be appropriate for the rubes. Because you could get so easily tripped up.
A: I'm from Saskatchewan originally.
B: Oh yeah? Living here now? What do you think of life in the big city?
A: No, just visiting. I've lived in LA for years.
I was also picturing something along those lines:
Canadian #1: I'm from Saskatchewan.
Canadian #2: For real? So what on Earth are you doing here in Cuba in February when you have Maple Creek right on your doorstep as a getaway destination...?
I've actually had the good fortune of meeting more pleasant Torontonians abroad than the opposite. But if I do meet a snooty self-identifying Torontonian, I can often trip them up like so:
TO: "I live in Toronto." (self-righteously)
Me: "Love Toronto! Live Downtown?"
TO: "Uhh, Aurora."
Me: "Well, that's not really Toronto is it?" (implying: you're not nearly as impressive as you make yourself out to be)
I do that all the time as it works nearly every time.
I hate people like you guys. The suburbs are just the outer parts of the city that have different mayors. Though I may just think this because I've only ever lived in the suburbs. I'm still a Vancouverite! As far as it matters to anyone outside the lower mainland.
The most annoying boosters of Calgary and AB are people who weren't born here. Chad being a prime example.
That's pretty much true in general (fresh converts being the most zealous).
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As for "dynamic" cities did you see my streetview tour of Hanna from a few pages back? lio had a good suggestion for a soundtrack to listen to while you explore it.
Thanks for sharing. Yeah I think we can all agree that the urban form of Hanna totally oozes "can do" attitude.
(..... there doesn't seem to be any heritage restrictions or aesthetic standards whatsoever over there, so as an owner or developer I guess you "can do" just whatever you want - judging by what I saw, if you felt like plopping down a trailer house on main street to start operating a Tim Horton's in, I have the feeling you probably could.)
I hate people like you guys. The suburbs are just the outer parts of the city that have different mayors. Though I may just think this because I've only ever lived in the suburbs. I'm still a Vancouverite! As far as it matters to anyone outside the lower mainland.
Half the time they aren't even from the outer parts of the city but off in the hinterlands of Southern Ontario. Of course, it make sense instead of having to explain to a person that couldn't care less on where their live. I just wonder if a part of their soul dies every time they say it as these can be the same types that are always available to take a jab at Toronto.
Canadians love to show off. (For a while at least) We loved posting photos on Facebook like no one else. The most nauseatingly boastful types have accomplished very little in life. Their well to do position (say upper middle class) is usually from an inheritance. (Octacular already brought this up) Second comes transplants although I think a big part of that is convincing themselves they made the right call even if they are doing very well.
Somewhat on the flipside I've met suburbanite "Torontonians" abroad who do the whole, "ugh, you live downtown? It's so busy and loud" thing. To which I answer, "nope, I'm not in downtown actually, I live in Parkdale (or Riverdale, depending on when this was)".
So I finally got to visit the East Village riverwalk in Calgary during Summer. I expected a lot based on pics, and based on how much I know the city treats it's riverfront. Was sorely disappointed. The path was great, but the riverfront itself didn't look so good. Based on the rendering I get that they wanted native vegetation to grow through the granite slabs.
But instead I found this:
It may be hard to tell from the pics, but most of those plants are weeds. It reminded me of how Toronto can deal with excellently designed new parks once they are done.
I'm surprised they even went with such a concept. Even in the best case I'm sure people would confuse it for being neglected. Should've just kept it simple, trail with vegetation off to the sides.
I find the older building in the first picture to look odd also. Too standoutish.
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lio had a good suggestion for a soundtrack to listen to while you explore it.
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