moving to vancouver

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by pylon

I lived in Vancouver for 9 months. Most depressing 9 months of my life.

- Get ready for the most segregated society you have ever seen. All cities have their issues, but every race sticks to their little corner in Vancouver, and have no interest in mingling. Where Canada is typically a melting pot, Vancouver is a pot of oil and vinegar dressing.

- Got escorted out of a Safeway by security for telling a cashier she had really pretty eyes. She was fat, but had nice eyes, and thought I was just being a nice guy by paying a compliment.

- Had a photocopier at a workplace taped up in yellow tape for a week, because I made a photo copy for a meeting, not the unionized rep, hired to make copies. I had to sit through two hearings with the union, because I made 1 photocopy.

- Went on a lot of dates when I was there, and was asked how much money I make by about 30% of the gold digging women there. Never once has that happened in Calgary or anywhere else I have been.

- With sitting with a fellow Jewish buddy in a pub in Kitsalano, using our stereotypical Yiddish jew voices making stupid self deprecating jokes. Cops were called and we were escorted out because apparently, we were hardcore racists.

The place is hell on earth, with the most hypersensitive f'd up people on the planet. Deny the promotion, and save yourself the heartache. If you are used to the typical Prairie, not so PC, happy go lucky type of attitude, you will feel so out of place in Vancouver. Absolutely beautiful place to look at, but the ugliest, most unfriendly people you will ever encounter.

Your gross generalizations based on a couple bad experiences are ridiculous man.

I've been on plenty of dates where no one has asked me how much money I make. I've never been escorted out of a greocery store or had the cops come to a restaurant and call me a racist. But because you have, everyone else in the city are the "ugliest, most unfriendly you will ever come across."


I get it, you don't like the city. Fine, I don't care, there's plenty I don't like about this place as well. But your "hell on earth" comment was one of the worst things I have ever read on this board.
Hyperbole or not, just stupid.

Why not spend 9 months in the slums of India or in war torn countries and come here and tell me Vancouver is "hell on Earth". Awful post on your part.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Your gross generalizations based on a couple bad experiences are ridiculous man.

I've been on plenty of dates where no one has asked me how much money I make. I've never been escorted out of a greocery store or had the cops come to a restaurant and call me a racist. But because you have, everyone else in the city are the "ugliest, most unfriendly you will ever come across."


I get it, you don't like the city. Fine, I don't care, there's plenty I don't like about this place as well. But your "hell on earth" comment was one of the worst things I have ever read on this board.
Hyperbole or not, just stupid.

Why not spend 9 months in the slums of India or in war torn countries and come here and tell me Vancouver is "hell on Earth". Awful post on your part.

Hell on Earth is a little extreme, but you have to admit Vancouver has some pretty serious social problems.

In general, it's very anti-social. At pubs, most people stick to themselves. I've been to many major cities in North America: New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, Toronto, etc... Vancouver is the least social of the bunch.

The nighlife is also severely lacking. Many of the clubs on Granville are full of wannabe gang banger kids. You have to worry about being swarmed for looking at someone the wrong way. Gastown is slowly picking up, but not quite there yet. It also seems like once a club becomes good, it only stays like that for a few months before its overun with the gangbanger kids.

All that being said. I've lived for long periods of time in Calgary and Toronto. Vancouver, overall, is my favorite of the three to live in.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by blankall

Hell on Earth is a little extreme, but you have to admit Vancouver has some pretty serious social problems.

In general, it's very anti-social. At pubs, most people stick to themselves. I've been to many major cities in North America: New York, Chicago, St. Louis, Seattle, Toronto, etc... Vancouver is the least social of the bunch.

The nighlife is also severely lacking. Many of the clubs on Granville are full of wannabe gang banger kids. You have to worry about being swarmed for looking at someone the wrong way. Gastown is slowly picking up, but not quite there yet. It also seems like once a club becomes good, it only stays like that for a few months before its overun with the gangbanger kids.

All that being said. I've lived for long periods of time in Calgary and Toronto. Vancouver, overall, is my favorite of the three to live in.

I haven't lived in any other city so I can't really compare Vancouver to another city with much merit to stand by. I don't notice the problems you speak of to be honest though.

People are people and you'll find all types, good or bad wherever you go. I've had friendly conversations at Starbucks with complete strangers. I've had arguments with idiots at Starbucks. There's no concentration of idiots in one sector of the city. They're all over the place, in every city.

[Winsor_Pilates]

Originally Posted by pylon

I lived in Vancouver for 9 months. Most depressing 9 months of my life.

- Get ready for the most segregated society you have ever seen. All cities have their issues, but every race sticks to their little corner in Vancouver, and have no interest in mingling. Where Canada is typically a melting pot, Vancouver is a pot of oil and vinegar dressing.

Nonsense. One of the most multicultural cities around. While you do get a lot of certain races living in certain areas, most people have a wide variety of close friends from various races and love exploring other cultures.

- Got escorted out of a Safeway by security for telling a cashier she had really pretty eyes. She was fat, but had nice eyes, and thought I was just being a nice guy by paying a compliment.

Has nothing to do with a city, sounds more like you were creepy.

Had a photocopier at a workplace taped up in yellow tape for a week, because I made a photo copy for a meeting, not the unionized rep, hired to make copies. I had to sit through two hearings with the union, because I made 1 photocopy.

Again, issue with you. Nothing to do with any city.

Went on a lot of dates when I was there, and was asked how much money I make by about 30% of the gold digging women there. Never once has that happened in Calgary or anywhere else I have been.

Agree on this one

With sitting with a fellow Jewish buddy in a pub in Kitsalano, using our stereotypical Yiddish jew voices making stupid self deprecating jokes. Cops were called and we were escorted out because apparently, we were hardcore racists.

Seems like issue with you again

The place is hell on earth, with the most hypersensitive f'd up people on the planet. Deny the promotion, and save yourself the heartache. If you are used to the typical Prairie, not so PC, happy go lucky type of attitude, you will feel so out of place in Vancouver. Absolutely beautiful place to look at, but the ugliest, most unfriendly people you will ever encounter.

At some point, when you're the only one having horrible encounters with people all the time you need to look in the mirror and wonder what kind of presence you're putting out there.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

I haven't lived in any other city so I can't really compare Vancouver to another city with much merit to stand by. I don't notice the problems you speak of to be honest though.

People are people and you'll find all types, good or bad wherever you go. I've had friendly conversations at Starbucks with complete strangers. I've had arguments with idiots at Starbucks. There's no concentration of idiots in one sector of the city. They're all over the place, in every city.

*cough* Surrey *cough*

Originally Posted by VANFLAMESFAN

Your gross generalizations based on a couple bad experiences are ridiculous man.

I've been on plenty of dates where no one has asked me how much money I make. I've never been escorted out of a greocery store or had the cops come to a restaurant and call me a racist. But because you have, everyone else in the city are the "ugliest, most unfriendly you will ever come across."

I get it, you don't like the city. Fine, I don't care, there's plenty I don't like about this place as well. But your "hell on earth" comment was one of the worst things I have ever read on this board.
Hyperbole or not, just stupid.

Why not spend 9 months in the slums of India or in war torn countries and come here and tell me Vancouver is "hell on Earth". Awful post on your part.

Once again, I refer you to Surrey....

Jokes aside, I like Vancouver, but I dont know if its someplace I'd like to live, but again, you never know until you do it.

Every city has its problems.

[puckluck]

This is getting juicy! I can't wait for the reply.

[Ozy_Flame]

I go to Vancouver once every 4-6 months or so, and I absolutely love it there. Love the people, the walkability, the variety of things to do, and the weather. I'm also a big Whitecaps fan, and even made it out to two games last year (hoping the same this year).

I am also considering a move to Vancouver at the end of the summer because I spend so much damn money on flights that I may as well just live there. The economy isn't as strong though - the only thing I fear is that my opportunities in tech consulting becoming severely limited over there when compared to Calgary.

[VANFLAMESFAN]

Originally Posted by Locke

*cough* Surrey *cough*



Once again, I refer you to Surrey....

Yeah, it's hard for me to defend Surrey. I'm sure if I lived out there though, I'd have a different opinion. I just see so much crap out there on the news, it's hard to ignore. I'm very rarely out there, so it's a non issue for me.

[flames_1987]

Pros

I lived in Vancouver from 2006-2009. Have a lot of good memories from it. For being athletic and getting around, it is the absolute best. The beautiful SeaWall, the beaches, how easy it is to walk around in comparison to Calgary with every being so centrally located.

I loved the nightlife in Vancouver. There is nothing in Calgary that can really compare to a night out in Vancouver, Granville St has so much to offer and something for everyone in terms of what type of scene you like. Lounges, Clubs, Pubs, Hostel Bars, Live Music and a ton of amazing late night places to eat.

Restaurants are great and there's so much to choose from, food from every ethnicity and you can still get Chinese food at 4AM.

Your weekends have an endless amount of options on what you want to do and it's also very easy to escape the downtown core as close as Commercial Drive. You really get a chance to enjoy being active over the winter months and with Vancouver Island so close, Seattle, the lower mainland, possibilities really are endless.

Commercial Drive was my favorite spot and was where I lived. A very welcome change from some of the downtown core. A real sense of neighborhood and no chain stores, or restaurants to be found. You'll find a ton of great neighborhood pubs, bakeries, restaurants and places to go shopping.


Cons

Elitism and lack of Nationalism more so then anywhere else in Canada. There's a feeling of being segregated from the rest of Canada with how highly people in Vancouver carry themselves and look down on the rest of the country.

I loved downtown Vancouver for a lot of reasons, but the people that live down there were not one. A lot of people showing off their money, the worst type of hipsters and a lot of "cliques".

Traffic

The homeless problem is as bad as it gets in Canada.

The worst type of Hipsters

[Hemi-Cuda]

have only visited Vancouver a couple of times but that was enough to convince me that i could never live there. hated the weather, the traffic, the rude people, the dirty streets, and i didn't find it nearly as pedestrian friendly of a city as it's been made out to be. i had a far easier time getting around downtown Toronto on foot and there was a lot more to do/see with a better class of people

[flames_1987]

I don't want to Hijack this thread, but to echo what some people have said, after living in both cities, Toronto beats Vancouver in nearly every category besides it's waterfront. Vancouver by itself has a lot to offer and going for it, but I always shake my head when anyone there tries to compare it Toronto.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

I don't want to Hijack this thread, but to echo what some people have said, after living in both cities, Toronto beats Vancouver in nearly every category besides it's waterfront. Vancouver by itself has a lot to offer and going for it, but I always shake my head when anyone there tries to compare it Toronto.

Also lived in both and I'd agree.

Although I'd also like to add the benefit of mountains, forest, and general outdoors not just waterfront to Vancouver. If you enjoy hiking, skiing, rock climbing, biking, etc... Vancouver is a much better city. While Vancouver doesn't have anywhere near the big city elements of Toronto, it is one of the few places in the world where you get so much nature along with a big city element.

You're right though Toronto has the much much better night life and cultural aspects. I found Toronto a lot more conservative than Vancouver though. Not a Calgary lets have a bbq type of conservative either, but a "old money" conservative. It was all about old money, not wearing certain clothes at certain times, what neighbourhood you lived in, etc... If I was going to live in a city like Toronto, why not just do it right and move to NYC.

[NomNomNom]

Originally Posted by flames_1987

Pros
I loved the nightlife in Vancouver. There is nothing in Calgary that can really compare to a night out in Vancouver, Granville St has so much to offer and something for everyone in terms of what type of scene you like. Lounges, Clubs, Pubs, Hostel Bars, Live Music and a ton of amazing late night places to eat.

I moved from Calgary to Van for school in the summer but this is something I don't agree on. Yes there are lots of clubs located pretty close to each other on Granville but compared to the clubs Calgary has to offer, they blow. Maybe not so much the actual club but the club scene - it's horrible.

Not to mention if you don't live right in Vancouver and are planning on hitting Granville street on a Saturday night you better have a DD because the last skytrain out of Van is at ~1:00 am and that's way too early considering the time it takes to get to/from your club and the amount of time it takes to get in.

[pylon]

I am just relaying my personal experiences in Vancouver. It was the worst experience of my life living there. I gave up a $150 k/yr job, at 25 years old, to come back here to work at a truck accessory place 40 k/yr. It sucked that bad. Part of it is, if you are raised on Alberta sensibilities, you will not fit in there.

If you like rude, hypersensitive, self involved people fill your boots. I cannot even stand the relatives I have that live there. They all have that tainted Vancouverness to them. Arguments with them are mind blowingly hilarious. Once you throw any sort of criticism about their city their way they get all butt hurt like the people in this thread. Then they automatically revert to calling Albertans red necks. Like it is a programed response. One time I was driving with one of my cousins on the Kingsway, and made an innocent comment about the traffic being really bad. "OK Mr. Calgary. If you lived in a 'real' City, not hicksville, you would realize that traffic is normal big city thing."

The city is perhaps the most beautiful place on the planet. The people though, ruin the entire experience.

[Ozy_Flame]

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

[wireframe]

I have lived in Vancouver for almost 6 years now. I agee with most of the stuff said in this thread already. PM me if you have any specific questions. Now, onto my genius analysis of the city of Vancouver.

The Good:
-There are a lot of fun organized activities and groups. Just look around.
-The food is unquestionably better than in Calgary. Usually cheaper too.
-You can cycle around town easily.
-It is possible to shop without going to a mall.
-Great film community (if you are into that)

The Bad:
-It is really hard to make friends. People are reserved and stick to themselves. My best advice on that front is to join a club or something. I am a member of the UBC Film Society and that is how I met most of my friends here.
-The rain isn't that big a deal if you are ready for it, but the clouds can be. A lot of people from Alberta get seriously bummed out by the lack of sunshine.
-People in Vancouver are absolutely convinced that they live in the greatest possible city on earth and have no reason to even consider going elsewhere.
-If you are into the mountain thing, it is pretty hard to find people to go into the mountains with you. Most people are more into wearing their arcteryx gear in the city than actually hiking or camping.

[wireframe]

Originally Posted by NomNomNom

I moved from Calgary to Van for school in the summer but this is something I don't agree on. Yes there are lots of clubs located pretty close to each other on Granville but compared to the clubs Calgary has to offer, they blow. Maybe not so much the actual club but the club scene - it's horrible.

Not to mention if you don't live right in Vancouver and are planning on hitting Granville street on a Saturday night you better have a DD because the last skytrain out of Van is at ~1:00 am and that's way too early considering the time it takes to get to/from your club and the amount of time it takes to get in.

I both agree and disagree with this. You are right in everything you said, but the scene for rock clubs is WAY better in Vancouver. It is rare for me to hit da club on Granville, but I can say with confidence that the rock and roll night scene is booming.

[Locke]

The thing that always upset me about Vancouver was the lack of decent pubs.

Every pub I went to either had insane music blaring or would insist that at 7:00 a disco ball come out of the ceiling and that they were now a club.

Even more was that every 'pub' wants to sell you 'their' beer. I dont want to try Tubby McTuberson's Bathtub swill especially not for $7+/pint. For that kind of cake I want a beer that I know I'm going to like, brewed by someone for whom it isnt a hobby.

[Jake]

Originally Posted by Crazy Bacon Legs

Try your best to avoid a lengthy commute. People can't drive here. Seriously. It's horrible. I would hate to measure my blood pressure during a commute because I would blow up the cuff and injure my physician. Plus, taking your blood pressure while driving is probably not safe. But people seriously can't drive here. Prepare yourself for that.

This is so true. Since I moved to Vancouver two years ago I have had to commute from Kits to West Van every day. It was so bad I had to make my new years resolution to relax more while driving. It isn't much fun when simply driving to work can put you in a really bad mood for a couple of hours each day. People are such bad drivers here, it is ridiculous. My only solution was to do my best to relax... which is sad.

[Cowboy89]

Originally Posted by wireframe

If you are into the mountain thing, it is pretty hard to find people to go into the mountains with you. Most people are more into wearing their arcteryx gear in the city than actually hiking or camping.

That's hilarious and reflects my experiences too. I think Calgary and the Greater Vancouver Area have a similar number of outdoorsy people, but in Vancouver they get diluted in half by having double the population.