“Downtown Vancouver isn’t vibrant or exciting, it’s as dead as a doornail. I lived in False Creek for 11 years so I know how bland and lame that town is. Dining was also bland and uninspired. Vancouverites to this day are the most arrogant closed off unworldly bunch I have ever met. Far worse than Americans, and I’m in the Southern USA now. What baffles me is that people actually pay to live there. I love living in the USA now, as a dual citizen and we’ll never go back to Canada. I couldn’t justify doing my MBA with zero real career prospects in the Vancouver ‘business district’ (laughable) and then driving up and down Broadway, Granville and Seymour thinking that bubble tea, camping, fishing and the Canucks is actually worth living there for and deluding myself in thinking it’s cosmopolitan. It isn’t a big city, a world class city or even really a city. It’s a large sleepy tourist village that wishes it matters on the world stage and the propaganda there just proves it. I hate Vancouver so much it makes my blood boil and get angry even thinking about it. I went to GNS private school in Victoria BC in Oak Bay. The lot of my old classmates either moved away to live in real cities and have real lives or went to private school and didn’t become successful at all. Canadian schools don’t seem to that much better. It’s what silly Canucks tell themselves to spite and convince themselves to the USA. No more Granville Island, no more skiing, no more small town people. A buddy of mine just become an oral surgeon, he moved to NYC to start his practice, why on earth would he choose NYC over the “best place on earth”? Maybe Vancouver isn’t on the map for educated people. Way to go Vancouver!!! the only people that live there (or want to) are aging baby boomers and the 3rd world… what a city !!!!! And one final comment, I never lived in a city like Vancouver where people pretended to be rich like they do there, what the hell kind of careers do people do there? I never figured that out. I know engineers that bag groceries at save on foods in east van, my realtor was an engineer but realized that he would never have a real career as an engineer there so in 1986 became a realtor. Vancouver is a poor city, with piss poor opportunities. I only stayed to do my MBA and watch my property values rise from when I got in during April of 2001. I cashed out to some foreign fool. I’m so happy I left.”
- Reality Check at VREAA, 18 Sep 2011 7:26am
Wow. We don’t share Reality Check’s vitriol; we at VREAA like many aspects of life in Vancouver, that is why we live here.
At the same time we acknowledge that in many ways, in many quarters (particularly amongst locals), Vancouver is simply over-rated. An unrealistic over-assessment of the city has undoubtably contributed to the speculative mania in housing prices.
- vreaa
I totally get the sentiment. It’s mostly born out of the utter arrogance and self-back-slapping that Vancouver should actually trademark. Most people who live here seem to suffer from Stockholm Syndrome which is a shame. There is a lot of potential here, but hell, if you drive around with “Best place on Earth” on your license plate clearly you lack the ability to objectively look at the place you call home (or is it investment these days?)
Love and Hate are actually very close feelings. Reality Check is hating right now what he has loved so much in the past, like you would hate the hot chick you loved so much before she broke off with you…
If he was not so attached to Vancouver, why would he come on Vancouver RE blogs and post (multiple) messages while living in the US?
Depending on what you’re looking for, Vancouver is actually a great city to live in. I don’t come from a 3rd world country, but from western europe. I’m not an aging baby boomer either, I’m 34! I’ve lived in London and Paris for years, so I know what’s living in a world class city is like. I also did my MBA at UBC (that’s the reason why I came here in the first place) and decided to get a job and live here (as did a lot of my fellow classmates). Depending on your chosen field, you can have a decent career here. For sure the opportunities might be more limited, of course you may have to compromise a bit on salary, but would I trade my life today to go back to London or Paris? Hell no! In fact, most of my work involved projects located anywhere in Canada and the US. I could be located pretty much everywhere I want, and I chose to be here.
Is everything perfect in Vancouver? Of course not. I wish so much I could afford a house here, which I can’t despite my 6 figure salary (that’s the reason why I’m on this blog!). But I’m renting a nice condo in a great location in downtown, the same way I was renting in London and Paris. I don’t have any problem with it and I’m patiently waiting (and saving) for prices to come down and be reasonable again, as they certainly will… If they don’t? well, I’ll be sitting on a pile of cash…
Vancouver is not for everyone, and there is no reason to be angry about it. I have a happy life here, and I know lots of people do too. If you can’t be happy here, forget it and go live somewhere else where you can find your happiness…
Makaya -> Nice. Thanks. We’ll headline this, too.
Disagree.
The presumption that Vancouver is comparable to NYC or London is inherently flawed. If you like living here that’s fine and no body is disputing it.
Van is nowhere near as financially or culturally sound. It is a nice grade 2 city and would be much more livable if the RE was not so deliriously high and so much away from fundamentals.
Where did I say that London or Paris were comparable to Vancouver? I know very well what the differences are, what you get and what you don’t get when you live in one of them. I’m not saying Vancouver or Paris or London is better. What I’m saying is that there is a shoe for every foot.
Some people love London or Paris for specific reasons, while other people love Vancouver for specific but different reasons.
As much as I love London and Paris (I have family living in both cities and I visit them there every year), I hated living there (Paris more than London) for multiple and personal reasons. I found my happiness in Vancouver. I agree this is not a city for everyone and a lot of my friends in Paris or London would have a miserable life living here. But Vancouver works great for me and this is where I want to raise my kid…
I don’t like when people despise this city or its people just because they didn’t get a good experience living here. We’re lucky enough to live in a free world where you can settle in pretty much wherever you want. If you don’t like here, nobody is preventing you from leaving. I didn’t like Paris and I move to Vancouver, I never whine about parisians or the city.
Makaya
Say what you want, but it is hard to ignore the glaring lack of fundamentals (or culture) in Vancouver that make a city great. This insecurity is reflected in everybody who vehemently tries to make a case for Vancouver.
Forget about Paris and London, just go visit someplace like Portland OR, it has much more Moxi than Vancouver.
For someone who claims to be so educated his grammar could use some work. It really is quite a wonder he made it 11 years with such hatred for this city.
While it may not be the paradise some people make it out to be, I have never really had the desire to leave.
“For someone who claims to be so educated his grammar could use some work.” I don’t for a second believe this individual has a MBA. The original post/follow-up has the trollish tone normally reserved for a rusty/rollie/sams mango/etc. They’re just playing the other side.
Makaya, I never loved Vancouver I disliked from the get go, I just follow this blog because I am curious about the real estate market thats it. I bought and sold condos there for 11 years. Flipping condos made me a fortune. Vancouverites, like you are so clinically arrogant and delusional that you actually believe that even the people that move and despise the city still love the city?.Excuse me!!? Sorry but that’s nuts. It’s your very attitude which is one of the main factors why I left, I couldn’t stand vancouver small town arrogance and constant insisting that the world thinks vancouver is the best.Sorry but Im in my 6th city and it’s not true nobody, outside of vancouver cares about vancouver other than foreign asian folks buying up the real estate.Think the government cares? trust me they don’t, give a flying F*ck about you.They want property taxes, press, and buyers.
I don’t think the market will crash …ever ….even if it drops 20% at best, many still can’t afford it so what the difference? and rich foreign people will be there to buy at the drop in prices and push it up again. Sorry for the young people but you’re screwed, especially with those horrible wages taxes and everything else, all the internet whining and convincing yourselves won’t change thing. When I lived in LA I wasn’t entitled to live in Beverly HIlls. Vancouverites aren’t entitled to anything.If I were any of you I wouldn’t sit around waiting for the possibility of the mythical ” crash” I’d investigate other options and plan around it. But whatever, no one who reads this will actually care anyways and I cashed out.
“I never loved Vancouver I disliked from the get go, I just follow this blog because I am curious about the real estate market thats it.”
For somebody who is so emotional about Vancouver, there must be some hidden feelings… ever thought of doing a psychanalysis?
“Flipping condos made me a fortune.” You should be grateful that Vancouver made you a fortune, the same way you should be grateful to you parents who gave you education and good manners.
“Vancouverites, like you are so clinically arrogant and delusional”. Have we met before?
“It’s your very attitude which is one of the main factors why I left”. I’m sorry to have caused you so much trouble, I really didn’t mean it. In the end, maybe it was a win-win situation that you left Vancouver, no?
“If I were any of you I wouldn’t sit around waiting for the possibility of the mythical ” crash” I’d investigate other options and plan around it”
My personal plan is to keep on renting and saving. That’s what I said at the end of my message. I have no plan to live anywhere else for now. I’m well traveled (been in 35 countries, lived and work in 5), and I know how it’s like elsewhere. Vancouver is where I want to be because of this is where I can get the lifestyle I want. Obviously, this city is not for you. No need to insult all Vancouverites, we can still be friends…
I lived in Vancouver and graduated from UBC in 1982. I was very bitter when I capitulated and left because employment opportunities for engineers were non-existent back then, and still may be. I loved Vancouver and spent the next 20 years visiting regularly from Toronto where I lived. I think Reality Check is bitter too, and is rationalizing his loss by replacing love with hate. There are lots of ex-Vancouverites scattered across the continent who likely feel the same way. Though, R-C has a point about the smug locals. People in Toronto aren’t like that and Toronto is aguably a better city in which to live and work.
Again, no I’m not bitter I truly despise Vancouver,many many people do.So Vancouverites are so arrogant that they think you MUST like vancouver secretly even if you don’t ? what a weird place it is….. Im so thankful I left …truly… leaving vancouver was truly one of the happiest days of my life
Davers,
Do you really care that much about blog spelling? this isn’t a term paper for god’s sake.Who in their right mind nitpicks a blog post?… weird….. and I’m sure in all your almighty greatness you never once have written a blog post with spelling errors right? Don’t be silly.
I am sending my daughter to UBC, and she is totally infatuated…with Vancouver. That vicarious pleasure is mine to enjoy for the cost of a dorm room.
This is the best comment for this post. Everyone can shut up go back to trolling vancouvercondoinfo.
and that’s why I love it
someone need a freaking hug …
Man, you made my day!
Here’s a hug for R-C… http://katkam.ca/. ‘Tis a fine day in Rain City.
Most people who profess their undying love for this city are one’s who have invested heavily in the delirious RE, and it is all about fear and greed.
Fear of RE downturn, greed vice-versa
Not true… I have no vested interest in RE in this city. None of my friends that decided to live here after graduation had bought any RE, yet all of them love the city. If you choose to rent, you can live a pretty good life at a reasonable cost here.
This city/province has a lot to offer, but not everyone enjoys nature and all the activities that come with it. If you prefer museums, a developed music scene and other cultural activities, you will have a pretty miserable life here.
I think age and yuppie demographic has a lot to do with it.
Younger people may think only about nature and activities, but there are many and lot more important things in life for someone with family and responsibilities.
When I went camping to Garibaldi Lake last month, there were all kinds of people, very young “party” folks, older mature ladies (early 60′s) and parents with young children (I brought my 7 month old baby up there and I was not alone, to my biggest surprised! Talking about family responsibilities…).
I agree with you there are a lot more important things in life than outdoor activities. It’s all about putting your priorities in order. I love great food and I have yet to find a good yet affordable restaurant in Vancouver. I’m still amazed at the costs of fruits and vegetables here, and don’t get me started about the price of cheese here. I would also love to have more music festivals in Vancouver during the summer season.
The same way some people go and spend spring break in Florida or Mexico to get sunny and warm weather, it’s possible to travel from Vancouver to satisfy your cultural (and other) cravings you can’t satisfy in Vancouver… Portland, SF or even NY are not that far away.
Since you seem to like Portland, here are a couple of bands from the Portland scene that I really like:
And here is one from the Minneapolis scene (which I discovered through KEXP radio from Seattle):
Thanks to internet, we’re not totally isolated here in Vancouver
Thanks, Makaya.
Good lesson: If you’re going to stay here, embrace what the city has to offer.
This is one of the funniest statements I hear repeated over and over. That is, until it isn’t 20+ and sunny outside, suddenly the majority prefer to ignore that there are outdoors and rather bitch over how cold (15C) and wet (oh no, it rains in a rainforest?) it is.
The biggest lie here is that the majority of people move here for the outdoors. There is a reason why I like Vancouver the most during the “ugly” months, at least I can enjoy the outdoors without all those fair weather “outdoorsy people” around me.
Best to love the city from afar, and go about your business.
I’m going to back Reality Check here, most of the ferverous Vancouverspiel is hemorrhaging from the mouths of those who have not experienced otherwise. The media and mayors we are #1 tripe is easily echoed by parrots and cockatiels.
Vancouver, and any other city for that matter, is like a buffet, lots of great stuff; just don’t pick up the stuff you don’t like, and don’t go during peak hours or there’s a huge lineup.
The difference for many? They don’t always get the same place to sit to eat the great food and that seems to annoy them to the ends of the earth.
In the smorgasbord of life, Vancouver is the food station with the middling fare but the excessively long line up. Out the door, around the corner, and across the street. Some are camping out in the line up because, well, it’s so long, it’s gotta be the best, right? It’s frustrating to pretty much randomly find yourself in the Vancouver line-up, to notice you’re hungry, and to ask yourself and those around you “Hey, what’s going on here?”
Smart folks know to look for the food where a line-up is disproportionally short compared with the actual quality of the food. They get good value.
Really lucky folks like food that others avoid, where there are no line-ups.
There is no real lineup at the smorgasbord — perhaps a bit at the shrimp bar and some of the other delicacies — but there is a lineup for guaranteed places to sit down close to the food and for that right you pay a big premium.
If you don’t mind picking up your plate and moving tables from time to time, or walking a bit further out (mind you don’t drop your plate on the way), you can still enjoy the food the same as everyone else. Yes you may feel a bit weird being asked to relocate by those who think they’re superior to you, but regardless you still get to eat the great food.
Some people even sit with those who have reserved seating. It’s a bit awkward at first, sometimes they ask that you leave so their grandmother can move in, but if you spill your drink they even clean it up for you, running to the cutlery section for paper towels in the middle of their meal.
To be quite honest there ARE some great dishes on the smorgasboard and if you know where to sit the company is great. Just like most other buffets I’ve been to albeit their specialties are different. Many of us are suckers for shrimp so here we sit.
Your entire post just had a ‘holier than thou’ tone so I decided to pick at little things.
What is it about doing that wretched MBA thang that so disfigures the soul (only for some, I might add).
True happiness can be found anywhere. Albeit, some buffets are, admittedly, more tempting than others.
I think this thread just might qualify as an authentic Commander Spock, “Fascinating.” moment.
The problem is that Vancouver markets itself as a Five Star Restaurant but when people get through the door they quickly realize that it’s a cheap Buffet with most of the food having been sitting too long under the heat lamps with little new stuff being brought out of the kitchen. After all, people already paid the fee.
Not unlike Wolfgang Puck’s @ the ‘Vegas MGM Grand, eh?
Clothes. Emperor’s.
I get it. It weren’t always like that though, Michael. (& hopefully, my impressions of ‘then’ weren’t/aren’t merely the ontological illusions ‘o youth).
As Bobby Zimmerman put it, “Things have changed…”
http://tinyurl.com/3udqtuz
Listening to all you renters bitch about missed opportunities is just hilarious.
I understand the frustration but even I who threw in the towel recently and left Vancouver has to concede that the city holds it’s appeal for some. Different strokes for different folks as they say. I too have lived in Paris and London and am currently in Hong Kong, while they suited me for a variety of reasons they are not for everyone. If you love and can afford the outdoor lifestyle, specifically skiing, then it has it’s merits. But realistically after paying housing, high taxes with poor and low paying job opportunities, how anyone after an honest day’s work can afford to do this is a mystery to me. Every city has it’s bug bears but at least in the cities I’ve lived in you can get on a direct flight very easily and be somewhere interesting and/or exciting within 4 hours. In other words Vancouver isn’t the international hub it likes to think it is. And that’s one of it’s frustrations: the way it and many of it’s citizens likes to stroke it’s ego. Lastly home is where you fit in and have a sense of community. I found it almost impossible to build that community. People on the surface are polite enough but it’s very hard to get beyond that and form friendships which help tie you to a place. No wonder, I think everyone is so stressed paying their debt and mortgages that they don’t have time to think about anything else.
Anyway I would just say that it didn’t suit me for a variety of reasons. The only way I can concede that it is world class, is that it is truly a beautiful city but it is not world class beyond it’s natural beauty. It’s like alot of places really – you go there on vacation but you wouldn’t want to live there.
I spent quite a bit of my time in Calgary and finally came to the conclusion that the two cities are bipolar from the perspective of city vs village:
Calgary is a city with a thriving corporate presence, there is an abundance of high paying jobs and a world class business sector yet the population desperately clings to it’s small town roots. Vancouver has very little industry or sizable corporations to create well paying jobs – a small town feel in my opinion yet the populace desperately claims that we are world class!
Lots of folks also think the skiing is much better in the Rockies.
Look, I am sure if you can stand -20 degrees in the winter, Calgary is a great city, but there are a lot of people who can’t. You can call us babies but we love the fact that the temperature is so moderate here. I hate cities that usually go over 25 in Summer and lower than 0 in the winter, which is what makes Vancouver so appealing. I remember visiting NYC once during the summer (I usually go spring or autumn) and had to try to duck into everything that has AC because it was so damn hot there and then vowed to never return during summer.
When I read this I have to wonder how your ancestors ever survived. You (as in people who think like this) seem to have quickly jettisoned the most important of all human traits: Resilience.
This is why I am not looking forward to to the eventual correction, because all these whiners will end up getting my tax dollars to bail out their sorry asses who weren’t willing or are willing to make any kind of sacrifice, meanwhile mostly likely whining about the evil Government taking their taxes.
Yes, I understand. This is one of the reasons why East Hastings exists.
@michael: that’s fine, but if I don’t have to, why would I want to. It’s like why bear the -20 degrees when I could live happily in a place that has 0 degree winter. It’s my choice isn’t it? You only need resiliency when you have no where else to go, which is not the case for everyone. Notice how I didn’t say I won’t visit places like NYC, I am simply saying that I won’t do it during the summer. Don’t know why this equates to whining exactly.
Btw, you seem to imply that people should make sacrifices and move away as if it is the correct thing to do. Not sure why you have come to this conclusion.
Might I recommend Honolulu?
http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USHI0026
http://www.weather.com/outlook/health/allergies/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/CAXX0518
It also has the advantage that its real estate is significantly cheaper than Vancouver’s. Maybe that’s because they’re not running out of land: nature is actually generating new land for them continuously.
Funny how you would mention that, I love hawaii. =)
“I hate cities that usually go over 25 in Summer and lower than 0 in the winter, which is what makes Vancouver so appealing.”
This made me chuckle. My Pacific Northwestern parents visited me in Washington D.C. a few years ago and couldn’t adjust to the spring weather. It was too hot for them in May, which was pretty funny. It took me a couple of years to adjust to a real summer, but now I love hot summer weather.
NYC is nothing in the summer compared to the heat in Virginia and Washington D.C.
LOL, I am not afraid to admit that I am a bit of a wuss in this, but I figured that I could add to the discussion by illustrating some preferences for people like myself.
Oh boy there sure are a lot of Vancouver haters.
I couldn’t run a business there because of cost of housing. I had 22 great IT gigs and after the 10th interview, I knew we were done.
BC has been writing ego checks, they can’t cash.
I don’t miss Vancouver, at all. I will never go back – snobby, would be a polite word.
Vancouver SUCKS
@JulianLee, Hawaii gets over 25C, just so you know:) Wonder how you can stand it there.
I love this post! So true! Omggg this city sucks balls! I grew up here and didn’t think too much of it when I was younger.. Although I can say I was never reallllyyy happy, and always felt like there is more out there for one to experience. I always felt my friends were shady and unhappy too, which in hindsight, I was probably like that too. But after moving to SoCal for a year, and coming back to Vancouver just drives me nuts!!! What’s up with everyone here???!!! Why are people so unfriendly, boring, and straight fucking losers?? Can’t wait to move the fuck out of here!!! One more year!!!