Comments on Vancouver
#1
Comments on Vancouver
from someone who's lived in Toronto, Halifax and Montreal.
- there aren't any black people
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough.
Any truth to these?
- there aren't any black people
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough.
Any truth to these?
#2
Re: Comments on Vancouver
From someone who's never lived there but been there often on business....
from someone who's lived in Toronto, Halifax and Montreal.
- there aren't any black people
True, or almost so.
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
I suppose I should plead the 5th, but only true in part
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
Very true.
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
Dunno. I don't eat street food especially when on expenses.
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough.
No direct experience of course, but this doesn't sound right to me.
Any truth to these?
- there aren't any black people
True, or almost so.
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
I suppose I should plead the 5th, but only true in part
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
Very true.
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
Dunno. I don't eat street food especially when on expenses.
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough.
No direct experience of course, but this doesn't sound right to me.
Any truth to these?
Last edited by Novocastrian; Dec 20th 2009 at 1:32 am.
#3
Re: Comments on Vancouver
from someone who's lived in Toronto, Halifax and Montreal.
- there aren't any black people
For a "black church" go to http://calvaryworshipcentre.com/
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
gogglemap search shows: http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com....ed=0CBMQtgMwAA
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
"Vancouver summer weather is one of the best things to love about the city.
Even though Vancouver has a reputation for getting lots of rain, it's actually the second driest major city in Canada.
Starting around May the weather starts getting sunny and by June the temperatures are reliably warm.
Between June and August the temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit)." (From Whyvancouver.com)
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough. http://www.streetohome.org/homelessness-vancouver
Any truth to these?
- there aren't any black people
For a "black church" go to http://calvaryworshipcentre.com/
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
gogglemap search shows: http://maps.google.com/maps?rls=com....ed=0CBMQtgMwAA
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
"Vancouver summer weather is one of the best things to love about the city.
Even though Vancouver has a reputation for getting lots of rain, it's actually the second driest major city in Canada.
Starting around May the weather starts getting sunny and by June the temperatures are reliably warm.
Between June and August the temperature is around 25 degrees Celsius (77 degrees Fahrenheit)." (From Whyvancouver.com)
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough. http://www.streetohome.org/homelessness-vancouver
Any truth to these?
#4
Re: Comments on Vancouver
Maybe we should use this as a standard yardstick for any Canadian city?
For Windsor :-
For Windsor :-
from someone who's lived in Toronto, Halifax and Montreal.
- there aren't any black people
Check, though if you want black people, there's plenty in Detroit
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
Erm, this is Windsor's biggest trade.... (almost)
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
No mountains here, though it doesn't rain much...
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
I'm going to have to be pretty much starving before I risk a "sausage" from one of the sad looking sellers outside of Canadian Tire, so can't comment on cost....
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough.
Downtown full of people with hard luck stories looking for a handout unfortunately....
Any truth to these?
- there aren't any black people
Check, though if you want black people, there's plenty in Detroit
- it's not good for vice, there aren't any strip clubs, the few bars that there are close early
Erm, this is Windsor's biggest trade.... (almost)
- it's great for access to the mountains and for sailing but it is always raining
No mountains here, though it doesn't rain much...
- street food is ridiculously expensive, a sausage from a cart is $6.50, it's still $3.50 in Toronto
I'm going to have to be pretty much starving before I risk a "sausage" from one of the sad looking sellers outside of Canadian Tire, so can't comment on cost....
- the poor do badly here. It doesn't get cold but there are no services for people living rough.
Downtown full of people with hard luck stories looking for a handout unfortunately....
Any truth to these?
#7
Re: Comments on Vancouver
Nope. Comments from one of my kids now living there. Note that she went to school beside Maple Leaf Gardens so everywhere in Canada, except Montreal, seems to her to lack diversity.
How come getting a sausage in the street in Vancouver is so expensive? How come beer is so expensive?
How come getting a sausage in the street in Vancouver is so expensive? How come beer is so expensive?
#9
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Location: In Limbo
Posts: 15,706
Re: Comments on Vancouver
Nope. Comments from one of my kids now living there. Note that she went to school beside Maple Leaf Gardens so everywhere in Canada, except Montreal, seems to her to lack diversity.
How come getting a sausage in the street in Vancouver is so expensive? How come beer is so expensive?
How come getting a sausage in the street in Vancouver is so expensive? How come beer is so expensive?
#11
Re: Comments on Vancouver
Nope. Comments from one of my kids now living there. Note that she went to school beside Maple Leaf Gardens so everywhere in Canada, except Montreal, seems to her to lack diversity.
How come getting a sausage in the street in Vancouver is so expensive? How come beer is so expensive?
How come getting a sausage in the street in Vancouver is so expensive? How come beer is so expensive?
#13
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2002
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Posts: 846
Re: Comments on Vancouver
I think Vancouver's ethnic diversity is much more Pacific Rim centric so a lot of asian ethnicity which is more recent. Maybe historical migration patterns affected which migrants moved where. There are a lot of historically British white rich enclaves in Vancouver, like over the bridge in West Vancouver but then you could say the same thing about Oakville just went of Toronto which is very similar in its lack of ethnic diversity, especially in the nice part.
Can't commet on the hotdog thing, I think even at $3.50 in Toronto they are a bit pricey but I still buy them in the summer when I want to get outside at Lunch.
The few tiems I've been there on business we have been out for dinner and drinks afterwards and at least the downtown part where I was seemed well serviced by bars and so forth and quite a large police presence which usually indicates a lively night life.
Anecdotally it has always been raining when I've been there so that is my impression but having lived in Manchester I would rather be in Vancouver in the rain.
Vancouver does have quite a bad rep as far as dealing with homless people etc. Lots of police hassle and they often will pick them up and move them out of the downtown etc. It will not be good leading up to the Olympics, they will all 'disappear'.
Can't commet on the hotdog thing, I think even at $3.50 in Toronto they are a bit pricey but I still buy them in the summer when I want to get outside at Lunch.
The few tiems I've been there on business we have been out for dinner and drinks afterwards and at least the downtown part where I was seemed well serviced by bars and so forth and quite a large police presence which usually indicates a lively night life.
Anecdotally it has always been raining when I've been there so that is my impression but having lived in Manchester I would rather be in Vancouver in the rain.
Vancouver does have quite a bad rep as far as dealing with homless people etc. Lots of police hassle and they often will pick them up and move them out of the downtown etc. It will not be good leading up to the Olympics, they will all 'disappear'.
#14
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 3,054
Re: Comments on Vancouver
All these have been well documented here. As for rain, its seasonal, lots in winter very little in summer. The homeless situation is very misrepresented. as a copper this is something I do know about. The amount of homeless (1500 or so) here is actually not that much worse than other major cities. What is unique is that they are largely isolated to one segment of the city (the down town east side) which happens to be right next to a tourist area and a very short walk from the CBD and cruise ship terminals. There are numerous services all condensed in one 3 block area: the sally ann, detox, harbour lights, powell street rescue, triage, native indian services, soup kitchens, the courts, police station, probation, parole, safe injection sites, etc. Not to mention vancouver's notorious single room occupancy hotels. what has happened is a ghetto. the nature of the area and the dependency it creates is a vicous circle. people get into the dtes and don't get out. they are prayed on by drug dealers and those that take advantage of the mentally ill. Many have tried different approached such as the four pillars to fix the area, but it needs to be broken up, spread our through the lower main land - we need to break out addiction to the dtes - don't let pivot read this though.
As for resources, the city spends a million dollars a day on homelessness. It is not being spent well.
not sure about sausages - one thing I found out recently was there what is called japadog's here that are a jap version with other things on it - not tried one, don't think I will!
Night life is lacking. I don't think younger kids who like the social side of going out will be too fond of here. there are some changes coming in jan 1 to extend the bar hours, but we'll have to wait and see if it has an affect or not.
there is a lot of gentrification taking place in the area, as much as it displaces the poor, I think its the onlu chance vancouver has to address the area's ills:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/can...tml?id=2360078
As for resources, the city spends a million dollars a day on homelessness. It is not being spent well.
not sure about sausages - one thing I found out recently was there what is called japadog's here that are a jap version with other things on it - not tried one, don't think I will!
Night life is lacking. I don't think younger kids who like the social side of going out will be too fond of here. there are some changes coming in jan 1 to extend the bar hours, but we'll have to wait and see if it has an affect or not.
there is a lot of gentrification taking place in the area, as much as it displaces the poor, I think its the onlu chance vancouver has to address the area's ills:
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/can...tml?id=2360078
Last edited by dboy; Dec 20th 2009 at 3:45 pm.