Great Canadian Skyline Thread II

[Kilgore Trout]

When you're walking around downtown Vancouver, it unquestionably feels like a bigger city than it actually is. (It certainly feels bigger and busier than Seattle which has a much larger metropolitan area.) Gastown and the DTES have really impressive heft for such a young city, and then as you keep heading west, you get into the modern downtown core and the West End, which are both bustling and imposing.

But Robson has absolutely nothing to do with Ste-Catherine. You can walk for 5.2km along Ste-Catherine, from Greene all the way to the Jacques-Cartier bridge, and the sidewalks are consistently busy the whole way, with an unbroken stretch of shops, restaurants, bars, theatres, plazas, malls, nightclubs, hotels, etc. Robson is an interesting street but it doesn't have anything close to the same diversity, plus it is only 2.2km long from BC Place to Denman, beyond which it is exclusively residential.

[J.OT13]

https://twitter.com/iciottgat/status/1456557557095481353


https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/183...io?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter


https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/183...wa?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

When you're walking around downtown Vancouver, it unquestionably feels like a bigger city than it actually is. (It certainly feels bigger and busier than Seattle which has a much larger metropolitan area.) Gastown and the DTES have really impressive heft for such a young city, and then as you keep heading west, you get into the modern downtown core and the West End, which are both bustling and imposing.

In the context of North America, I'd say that there are quite a few Canadian cities that feel somewhat larger than they are - at least on certain metrics.

IMO Ottawa, Quebec City, Calgary and Halifax at least would be in that category, though sometimes for different reasons.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Acajack

In the context of North America, I'd say that there are quite a few Canadian cities that feel somewhat larger than they are - at least on certain metrics.

IMO Ottawa, Quebec City, Calgary and Halifax at least would be in that category, though sometimes for different reasons.

Victoria definitely feels larger than it’s population would suggest, specially in a North American context, even though it has a stunted skyline. Even Kelowna now and especially in 5 years will have a larger feel for its 220 000 ish population.

(Actually, in 5 years one will be able to make a rather interesting parallel comparison between Victoria and Kelowna and Montreal and Vancouver!)

[Acajack]

Yes Victoria is another good example.

[Acajack]

Of course these comparisons are only favourable to our cities when they are up against US cities.

Versus the rest of the world we don't do so well.

Calgary and Ottawa vs Oslo and Helsinki for example.

[Metro-One]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Of course these comparisons are only favourable to our cities when they are up against US cities.

Versus the rest of the world we don't do so well.

Calgary and Ottawa vs Oslo and Helsinki for example.

On the world stage outside of the US many of our cities (especially Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver) I would say become a push for how big they feel to their population. At least in my experience traveling.

While these debates do get goofy sometimes they are also interesting. It’s nice that Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Calgary etc… aren’t all clones of each other.

That said, most of our cities definitely have a Canadian “look” that binds them together and separates them from American, European, Australian, etc… cities. Which I like.

The only cities that could honestly be mistaken for elsewhere to me are Victoria (could be New Zealand or Tasmania), Quebec City (looks European), and Winnipeg (looks American).

All others, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, etc… are all “Canadian” in look (even though they all have their own unique variations of that).

[thewave46]

Originally Posted by Metro-One

That said, most of our cities definitely have a Canadian “look” that binds them together and separates them from American, European, Australian, etc… cities. Which I like.

The only cities that could honestly be mistaken for elsewhere to me are Victoria (could be New Zealand or Tasmania), Quebec City (looks European), and Winnipeg (looks American).

All others, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, Saskatoon, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, etc… are all “Canadian” in look (even though they all have their own unique variations of that).

I'm curious about what that 'Canadian look' is.

The skylines of most of our major cities look pretty standard North American to my eye. International-style towers with a smattering of apartment blocks and condos. The occasional Art Deco tower in older parts of the country with New York being the most distinctive example. Take away the signature pieces that define certain Canadian cities, paste them against a blank backdrop, and they're pretty generic. Which was the whole point of the International Style.

If we're talking street-level vibe, the shift from northeast to southwest is more the pattern. Someone might confuse parts of Brooklyn and Montreal as being in the same country, or even the same city. It's less a 'country' thing and more a pre-WWII development thing in North America.

Quebec City, old Montreal and Victoria are outliers. Vancouver might have a slightly more Asian tinge with the generic condo skyline.

[MonkeyRonin]

Originally Posted by Acajack

Of course these comparisons are only favourable to our cities when they are up against US cities.

Versus the rest of the world we don't do so well.

Calgary and Ottawa vs Oslo and Helsinki for example.

There's usually an inverse relationship between the size of country's population and the relative "feel" of how large their cities might seem for their populations. The comparison between China's obscure regional megacities and small European capitals for example, stacks up even worse.

So it makes sense that a Canadian city of x population will feel larger than an American one of the same size - it occupies a position of greater relative importance and has the amenities to show for it. A better question would be: how do Canada's cities compare to those of our peer nations like Australia or Poland? I'd say they generally feel about as large as they should.

That said, just within the Canadian context there are still some cities that tend to punch a bit above their weight (eg. Halifax, Victoria, St. John's), and those that don't (eg. most of Ontario's smaller centres).

[Razor]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

There's usually an inverse relationship between the size of country's population and the relative "feel" of how large their cities might seem for their populations. The comparison between China's obscure regional megacities and small European capitals for example, stacks up even worse.

So it makes sense that a Canadian city of x population will feel larger than an American one of the same size - it occupies a position of greater relative importance and has the amenities to show for it. A better question would be: how do Canada's cities compare to those of our peer nations like Australia or Poland? I'd say they generally feel about as large as they should.

That said, just within the Canadian context there are still some cities that tend to punch a bit above their weight (eg. Halifax, Victoria, St. John's), and those that don't (eg. most of Ontario's smaller centres).

And to your point, I was just checking out drone pics of Saint Louis in the "My city photos" section, and while the greenery was stunning, those angles was unflattering for a metro of almost 3 million people..I'm sure it does better on the ground though..That, or the drones just weren't doing it justice with their pics..Canadian cities do quite well in pictures..

[davee930]

Originally Posted by isaidso

I'm continually shocked how some Canadians have so little appreciation for their own country. Self mockery/loathing isn't witty, it's sad. This is hardly the only thread where you enthusiastically trash this country. If you idolize those places perhaps you should just emigrate to the US. There are 1 million+ people waiting in line who would gladly take your place.

Sorry, maybe I came off the wrong way. I was more mocking the people who keep comparing our cities dick sizes.

It was just a nod to NYC (the city of all cities).

I love Canada. I only want it to be the best it can be. Our cities do fantastic for their sizes. Especially Calgary.

I play around in good spirits. I try to at least.

[davee930]

How could I not love this view??

[IMG]DJI_0054 by davee930, on Flickr[/IMG]

[Acajack]

Originally Posted by MonkeyRonin

There's usually an inverse relationship between the size of country's population and the relative "feel" of how large their cities might seem for their populations. The comparison between China's obscure regional megacities and small European capitals for example, stacks up even worse.

So it makes sense that a Canadian city of x population will feel larger than an American one of the same size - it occupies a position of greater relative importance and has the amenities to show for it. A better question would be: how do Canada's cities compare to those of our peer nations like Australia or Poland? I'd say they generally feel about as large as they should.

That said, just within the Canadian context there are still some cities that tend to punch a bit above their weight (eg. Halifax, Victoria, St. John's), and those that don't (eg. most of Ontario's smaller centres).

Excellent points!

[Rico Rommheim]

After a 10 year absence, I returned to Vancouver in late October and spent two weeks in and around the city and on Vancouver Island. I brought along my friend from Montreal. This guy has been everywhere on the planet except western and eastern Canada.

Since I used to live in Vancouver I was able to give him a thorough tour of the downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods. What shocked both of us is just how lively and urban and imposing downtown Vancouver is. It really did give us an impressive big city feel that for some reason downtown Montreal doesn't.

And it's not just the toothpick blue-green glass condos. Vancouver just doesn't get enough credit for the brick and mortar early 20th century vibe it has. The downtown is very much a city stuck between the frontier boomtown and 21st century hypercapitalist aesthetics.

Not to say that dt Montreal feels small, but Vancouver's downtown peninsula really does match SSP's metric of "punching above it's weight".

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

After a 10 year absence, I returned to Vancouver in late October and spent two weeks in and around the city and on Vancouver Island. I brought along my friend from Montreal. This guy has been everywhere on the planet except western and eastern Canada.

Since I used to live in Vancouver I was able to give him a thorough tour of the downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods. What shocked both of us is just how lively and urban and imposing downtown Vancouver is. It really did give us an impressive big city feel that for some reason downtown Montreal doesn't.

And it's not just the toothpick blue-green glass condos. Vancouver just doesn't get enough credit for the brick and mortar early 20th century vibe it has. The downtown is very much a city stuck between the frontier boomtown and 21st century hypercapitalist aesthetics.

Not to say that dt Montreal feels small, but Vancouver's downtown peninsula really does match SSP's metric of "punching above it's weight".

Downtown Calgary's street experience isn't that exciting (particularly with a 30% vacancy rate). The areas for active street life would be Stephen Ave. and further to the south in the Beltline. 17th ave is our 'high street' and the closest thing we have to a Ste. Catherine's. 11th Ave and 4th St. have some nice pockets as well. Kensington which is north of the core and East Village are also a nice pedestrian experience. Not sure if you had a chance to check any of those out?

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Rico Rommheim

After a 10 year absence, I returned to Vancouver in late October and spent two weeks in and around the city and on Vancouver Island. I brought along my friend from Montreal. This guy has been everywhere on the planet except western and eastern Canada.

Since I used to live in Vancouver I was able to give him a thorough tour of the downtown and surrounding neighbourhoods. What shocked both of us is just how lively and urban and imposing downtown Vancouver is. It really did give us an impressive big city feel that for some reason downtown Montreal doesn't.

And it's not just the toothpick blue-green glass condos. Vancouver just doesn't get enough credit for the brick and mortar early 20th century vibe it has. The downtown is very much a city stuck between the frontier boomtown and 21st century hypercapitalist aesthetics.

Not to say that dt Montreal feels small, but Vancouver's downtown peninsula really does match SSP's metric of "punching above it's weight".

Vancouver's relatively compact business district surrounded by thousands of condo/apartment buildings contributes greatly to its liveliness. And from what I could tell the one time I visited in 2019, it has no dead zones. Every building has retail or residential units on the ground floor.

In most other cities, the residential and commercial sectors of the downtown are quite segregated. A dead after 6 pm CBD, surrounded by condo towers with no street level activity and a few entertainment districts here and there.

Ottawa's a prime example, with everything in the CBD closed by 6 pm. Sparks is dead even with a good selection of bars and restaurants on one side (while the other side's retail has a near 100% vacancy rate because of the Feds mismanagement or building rehabs). The Escarpment District is dense, but has virtually no ground level units or retail. We then have our lively older districts along Elgin and the Market that are booming until closing time at 2 am.

Same can be said of Montreal, with its CBD fairly quiet in the evening, but districts like Le Plateau remaining lively at all times of the day.

[biguc]

My recent visits to Vancouver left me extremely whelmed. It's a midsized city on the bigger end of the spectrum and that's exactly what it feels like.

[JHikka]

Originally Posted by biguc

My recent visits to Vancouver left me extremely whelmed. It's a midsized city on the bigger end of the spectrum and that's exactly what it feels like.

I'm in the same boat. A fine city but wasn't blown away or impressed about scale or scope. Natural setting is great and that's what sets it apart more than anything else.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by biguc

My recent visits to Vancouver left me extremely whelmed. It's a midsized city on the bigger end of the spectrum and that's exactly what it feels like.

Originally Posted by JHikka

I'm in the same boat. A fine city but wasn't blown away or impressed about scale or scope. Natural setting is great and that's what sets it apart more than anything else.

Vancouver was ahead of its time... it stood out more 25 years ago when it was doing the condos towers everywhere, bike lanes, adding AT infrastructure, etc. sooner and more intensively than other Canadian cities.

Many other Canadian cities have caught up, or at least closed the gap in that regard such that Vancouver doesn't feel quite as exceptional anymore.

[O-tacular]

Originally Posted by esquire

Vancouver was ahead of its time... it stood out more 25 years ago when it was doing the condos towers everywhere, bike lanes, adding AT infrastructure, etc. sooner and more intensively than other Canadian cities.

Many other Canadian cities have caught up, or at least closed the gap in that regard such that Vancouver doesn't feel quite as exceptional anymore.

Yeah I can see that.