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Originally Posted by giallo
I've been following a few exciting bands and the photographers that shoot them in Vancouver. They are mostly made up of young Zoomers (like 19-22 years old). For the last year or so, their Instagram was a window into the "New Underground Vancouver"; very creative people that support each other immensely. It was like watching a new vibrant culture be created in realtime on social media. It was interesting observing this after being away from Canada for so long. It wasn't something you'd see in Seoul, for instance.
Recently, the city shut down their DIY venue. It was where most of these shows were held, and was a safe, cheap space for anyone and everyone. You could tell it was an extremely important gathering place for these people.
Since the closing, the tone of their posts have become a lot more dark. They have nowhere to go that they can afford, so they're on the beaches or in the forest hanging out. There's no more photos of bands playing. No more gig posters about upcoming shows. One photographer posted how she's messed her life up so bad, and has no direction. How she has no choice but to live with her parents even though she's an adult, and should be living on her own.
It's a window into a generation that doesn't understand that it's not their fault. Like, you're not supposed to be able to afford $3000 for a 1 bedroom apartment at 22 years old. They have no reference though. To them, this is how it is, and how it's always been. There's very little historic hindsight when you're 21 years old. You just feel like you're a failure because you can't participate in society like you were shown or taught.
In this regard, Canadian cities have become extremely hostile to younger generations. Getting a job and an apartment are tough enough, but getting a job that pays enough to afford an apartment is even more difficult. So many Gen Zers are all stuck at home, unable to start that next chapter.
I wonder what this generation is going to look like coming out of the other side of this.
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That part is an interesting contrast to Millennials, who are at least old enough to remember when things were a little more attainable and it was possible to live modestly on an entry-level salary or minimum wage, even in the most expensive cities.
Millennials were generally at least able to get their foot in the door before things got too crazy, but as they've worked up the corporate ladder and advanced in their careers they've been greeted with the realization that instead of enjoying the traditional spoils of middle age, that they're just treading water and having to do more to maintain the same lifestyles that they had in their 20s.
In only 7 more years the eldest of the Gen Alphas will also be reaching adulthood. Who knows what sort of country they'll be graduating into: perhaps they just won't ever even think of living on their own as an option.
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Originally Posted by Drybrain
I actually do think that we'll see more young Canadians continually dispersing to smaller Canadian communities before flocking to places like Lisbon in huge numbers--though I do think that will happen (and is happening) to a lesser degree.
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I agree, though the math is making this option increasingly hard to justify. Even small towns in much of Canada only offer a marginal discount when compared to nearby cities, but with fewer job opportunities and a much lower earning potential. They might make sense if you're cashing out of a big city property for a cheaper small town one; but for a renter there's little upside to moving from say, Vancouver to Campbell River.
There are still a few sizable cities with a low-ish cost of living and decent labour market, like Edmonton, Winnipeg, and Saskatoon; but it's a shrinking list and they're growing fast. The list of expensive places outnumbers affordable ones, and the affordable ones are bound to fill up quickly at this rate.
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Originally Posted by whatnext
So why don't they leave? I don't mean this is in a GenX vs Zoomer way but virtually everyone outside of the Native American population is here because life in their old country sucked for some reason so they left. Heck, even the "indigenous" population crossed the Bering Land Bridge because presumably life in East Asia at the time wasn't great.
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I imagine many will. And considering emigration is at record highs (and immigrant retention at record lows), it
is certainly a growing trend. One that will likely only grow stronger in the coming years.
Still, unless you're a dual citizen emigrating isn't necessarily an easy or viable thing to do for most people.