moving to vancouver

[SebC]

Hey now, Vancouver's lounge scene is about to take off!

[flames_1987]

We seem to sometimes be our worst enemies in Canada with how we criticize ourselves and our own first before anyone else does. To an outsider, traveling to Canada and visiting Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto each offer their own qualities and reasons to love them. There's friendly people in all of them, they're all extremely safe on a global level and each have beautiful distinct differences. I'm not sure why sometimes we can't just celebrate that as Canadians we have these distinct provinces all with these amazing attributes and not try to rank them or tear the one we don't live in down. My biggest pet peeve about Vancouver was that some citizens who had lived their entire lives there refused to believe there was anywhere else in the world to live, much less the country. Openly questioning how someone could live in Calgary.

I loved my time in Vancouver, I loved growing up in Calgary and I love living in Toronto right now. Living in each place gave me perspective on the other city and our country as a whole. I disliked things about all 3 cities, but the pros outweigh the cons easily.

[MelBridgeman]

Vancouver is a nice collection of mediocre. Mediocre mountains, skii hills, beaches, bars, weather, people -it does have something for everyone.

[seattleflamer]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

We seem to sometimes be our worst enemies in Canada with how we criticize ourselves and our own first before anyone else does. To an outsider, traveling to Canada and visiting Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto each offer their own qualities and reasons to love them. There's friendly people in all of them, they're all extremely safe on a global level and each have beautiful distinct differences. I'm not sure why sometimes we can't just celebrate that as Canadians we have these distinct provinces all with these amazing attributes and not try to rank them or tear the one we don't live in down. My biggest pet peeve about Vancouver was that some citizens who had lived their entire lives there refused to believe there was anywhere else in the world to live, much less the country. Openly questioning how someone could live in Calgary.

I loved my time in Vancouver, I loved growing up in Calgary and I love living in Toronto right now. Living in each place gave me perspective on the other city and our country as a whole. I disliked things about all 3 cities, but the pros outweigh the cons easily.

Well put. Canadians who have travelled realize how fortunate they are to live where they do. Though there is always an internal ranking subconsciously of where you live or where you're from. During my time in Toronto, when I met new people, they would look at me with a straight face that Calgarians wore cowboy hats and boots all the time.

Also, it irked me that that some felt where Toronto ended, Vancouver began with a whole lotta nothing in between. That was in the early/mid 90s so things have changed I suppose but I was always the "hick" with my friends.

[Ozy_Flame]

I think if you've travelled out of Canada for long enough, you come back and notice that differences among Canadians are just petty differences. They're probably magnified if you haven't seen cultures that exist on the extreme opposite ends of the earth.

A friend from France once said that she was amazed that in a country as expansive as ours, we proudly claim the "Canadian" identity regardless of province and distance. That's something to definitely proud of; you would never find that in Europe, the middle east or Asia.

[MelBridgeman]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

I think if you've travelled out of Canada for long enough, you come back and notice that differences among Canadians are just petty differences. They're probably magnified if you haven't seen cultures that exist on the extreme opposite ends of the earth.

A friend from France once said that she was amazed that in a country as expansive as ours, we proudly claim the "Canadian" identity regardless of province and distance. That's something to definitely proud of; you would never find that in Europe, the middle east or Asia.

that is canada for ya, we are proud and friendly with our visitors but spend the rest of time bitching at each other.

[Zevo]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

We seem to sometimes be our worst enemies in Canada with how we criticize ourselves and our own first before anyone else does. To an outsider, traveling to Canada and visiting Vancouver, Calgary, and Toronto each offer their own qualities and reasons to love them. There's friendly people in all of them, they're all extremely safe on a global level and each have beautiful distinct differences. I'm not sure why sometimes we can't just celebrate that as Canadians we have these distinct provinces all with these amazing attributes and not try to rank them or tear the one we don't live in down. My biggest pet peeve about Vancouver was that some citizens who had lived their entire lives there refused to believe there was anywhere else in the world to live, much less the country. Openly questioning how someone could live in Calgary.

I loved my time in Vancouver, I loved growing up in Calgary and I love living in Toronto right now. Living in each place gave me perspective on the other city and our country as a whole. I disliked things about all 3 cities, but the pros outweigh the cons easily.

Sorry.

[pylon]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

What the heck were you offered in Vancouver that was 150k / year for a 25 year old? Whale whisperer??

I had a very specialized skill set in the aftermarket automotive business at the time. I was maybe one of 5 guys in Canada that could do what I could do, and I was hired on a 2 year contract to basically show a competitor how it was done. It wasn't because I was smart or anything, just a situation I fell into in my early 20's. That is really all I can say about it, without breaking some sort of agreement I signed 12 years ago.

Don't get me wrong. I have seen the exact opposite happen to people coming here from Vancouver, or Toronto, sometimes they just don't fit in. I fully realize, half of my problem, was heading there, and just being Johnny redneck from the prairie without adapting at all. I didn't grow up in this new Cosmo version of Calgary, I grew up in the big city/small town feel version. I even am starting to have issues with the direction this city is starting to go now.

[Galakanokis]

a lot to digest in this thread for the OP. Really it ain't so bad. I hate it here and it isn't that bad. I have been here coming up to 11 years and it just doesn't feel like home for me. Don't know why it just doesn't.

I don't go to clubs or ski hills or beaches anymore, too busy with the kids and their activities. I work downtown so I avoid it as much as possible on evenings and weekends. Never cared for clubs as I got my fill of Three Cheers and Coconut Joes in the early 90's. I much prefer a nice pub or lounge with cold beer and strong whisky and those places can definitely be found.

Having kids in sports and activities can be a major pain in the butt. You might have to be in Tawassen or Mission for a 6pm weekday game or even the sunshine coast. It can be a a real hassle. Some places are really far apart. Not sure if you mentioned a family but that is something to consider when looking for a place to settle.

All in all you make of it what you make of it. Come in with an open mind and I am sure you will love it. There definitively seem to be enough Flames fans kicking around and I'm sure we would all be glad to help out a fellow fan. Hell, if I can hang out with Locke for a night I"m sure I could do the same for you.

Sorry if I rambled. A little drunk after the canucks game. Had a little chat with Sutter after he saw me with my Flames hate on. He asked how the boys were doing tonight....