Canadian Division (Canada Cup) Part IV

[LEAFSANDBILLSFAN]

Samsies! But grew up on the island. We kinda looked at "mainlanders" like most BCers look at Toronto.

But their so chill in the Kootenays/ Okanagan because it's so awesome there. In Kelowna their drunk off their ass on wine, in Castelgar their chillin floatin' down the river, in Trail they are bowing to their industry overlords on the hill (or skiing) and Nelson they have just about everything. That is one town I would seriously consider id I couldn't live on the island or lower mainland.

Nelson is amazing. I love the lakefront area. My best friend lives right on the river in Castlegar. Been to see him more than a few times and everytime you see Bald Eagles flying over the river. Wonderful sight indeed. He works in Trail and is a huge skier so Rossland being right there works for him.

Fingers crossed I can retire on Vancouver Island someday. I took my fiance there to show her why I love it and now she understands. She's a Kitchener girl and was mostly interested in Nanaimo for the dessert bars. She quickly learned how pathetically touristy that was. Showed her Roger's Chocolates in Victoria and she found a new love.

 

[Captain Bowie]

This isn't any intent to turn this into a political discussion, but I see the politics of Alberta, to be very different than most of the rest of Canada. Also, there is a great deal of animosity towards Ottawa/ the Feds/East, over the Energy situation. I don't know if this carries over into hockey somewhat, but it's possible.

Alberta is Texas, in many ways. Even have their own separatist movement.

 

[Heldig]

I was born in Richmond BC and go out to Alberta, Kootenay (Trail, Castlegar, Nelson) Kelowna, and Vancouver quite a bit. Maybe its the company I keep when out there but none of them are as loony tunes about Toronto as what I see on here. This board is next level hatred of Toronto. I can only imagine most are young and haven't been over to Ontario and their whole perception revolves around the media.

I live in the Kootenays and can attest that Toronto is barely an afterthought in daily life. Toronto did get a lot of love during the Raptors championship season though.

As for the hatred on HF, other than sheer volume of Leaf discussion (most fans in the league) is it that much more pronounced than against other markets? I think we see what we see with a biased eye.

 

[Rubi]

Samsies! But grew up on the island. We kinda looked at "mainlanders" like most BCers look at Toronto.

But their so chill in the Kootenays/ Okanagan because it's so awesome there. In Kelowna their drunk off their ass on wine, in Castelgar their chillin floatin' down the river, in Trail they are bowing to their industry overlords on the hill (or skiing) and Nelson they have just about everything. That is one town I would seriously consider id I couldn't live on the island or lower mainland.

It snows too damn much in Nelson. Beautiful in the summer though.

 

[Captain Bowie]

Nelson is amazing. I love the lakefront area. My best friend lives right on the river Castlegar. Been to see him more than a few times and everytime you see Bald Eagles flying over the river. Wonderful sight indeed. He works in Trail and is a huge skier so Rossland being right there works for him.

Fingers crossed I can retire on Vancouver Island someday. I took my fiance there to show her why I love it out there and now she understands. She's a Kitchener girl and was mostly interested in Nanaimo for the dessert bars. She quickly learned how pathetically touristy that was. Showed her Roger's Chocolates in Victoria and she found a new love.

As someone who grew up on the island, now lives on the mainland and vacationed most summers in the Okanagan, I never found a place I found as beautiful as home until I drove through the Nelson/Kootenays area when a couple summers ago. Nelson is like the perfect sized town, like Nanaimo. Big enough, but still a small town feel, with access to every land or water based activity you can imagine.

 

[SamInVan]

I have been to every province in the country coast to coast except Newfoundland. I have been to towns across Ontario and I can count far far fewer Ontarians with a poor attitude towards West coast vs West Coasters against Ontario. Personal experience I guess.

100%.

Lived in both Toronto and Ottawa through various job re-locations over the years and almost everyone I socialized with loved Vancouver and had no idea there was animosity coming fromWest to East targeting Toronto.

With that being said I couldn't move back to Vancouver fast enough!

 

[Captain Bowie]

I grew up near Toronto (Belleville) so I'm quite familiar with the city, having been there many many times. I really never liked the appearance of Toronto. Its an ugly city to drive into from either the east or the west. The best thing it has going for it is being next to Lake Ontario but after a while even that gets old and tired. Sure Toronto gets lots of concerts and plays but so does every other major Canadian city. Its also a very crowded place and honestly... a dirty city. The amount of trash you see lying around is amazing. Also you can't walk a block in the downtown area without having to step over some homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk. It also has a downtown area that I wouldn't feel particularly safe walking around by myself at night.

I'll stick with Calgary, where I moved to in my early 20's. Its a beautiful city that is big enough (1.55 million) but not too big. Being able to look west every day and see the Rocky Mountains (a 50 minute drive west of the city) is amazing. I've been to the Rockies too often to count but every time I visit I'm in awe. I love to photograph wildlife and have no problem at all finding eagles, hawks, owls, bears, coyotes, and deer to photograph. I also used to love to ski in my younger years. Every weekend I would drive to the Rockies to go skiing. While living in Ontario that would almost be a trip of a lifetime. I did it every weekend.

So no... I'm not jealous of those living in Toronto. Far from it. I almost feel sorry for those forced to live in that concrete and asphalt jungle. I never had any desire whatsoever to move back.

Here's a photograph looking west from where I live.... which is a small bedroom community just south of Calgary that is a 25 minute drive to downtown Calgary.

View attachment 395050

If it wasn't dark I'd show off my view of Mt. Baker.

But from Vanvouver world-class skiing, hiking and golf is all within a 30 minute drive.

See!! It's not just Toronto. We're competitive with the prairie provinces too.

 

[LEAFSANDBILLSFAN]

I grew up near Toronto (Belleville) so I'm quite familiar with the city, having been there many many times. I really never liked the appearance of Toronto. Its an ugly city to drive into from either the east or the west. The best thing it has going for it is being next to Lake Ontario but after a while even that gets old and tired. Sure Toronto gets lots of concerts and plays but so does every other major Canadian city. Its also a very crowded place and honestly... a dirty city. The amount of trash you see lying around is amazing. Also you can't walk a block in the downtown area without having to step over some homeless person sleeping on the sidewalk. It also has a downtown area that I wouldn't feel particularly safe walking around by myself at night.

I'll stick with Calgary, where I moved to in my early 20's. Its a beautiful city that is big enough (1.55 million) but not too big. Being able to look west every day and see the Rocky Mountains (a 50 minute drive west of the city) is amazing. I've been to the Rockies too often to count but every time I visit I'm in awe. I love to photograph wildlife and have no problem at all finding eagles, hawks, owls, bears, coyotes, and deer to photograph. I also used to love to ski in my younger years. Every weekend I would drive to the Rockies to go skiing. While living in Ontario that would almost be a trip of a lifetime. I did it every weekend.

So no... I'm not jealous of those living in Toronto. Far from it. I almost feel sorry for those forced to live in that concrete and asphalt jungle. I never had any desire whatsoever to move back.

Here's a photograph looking west from where I live.... which is a small bedroom community just south of Calgary that is a 25 minute drive to downtown Calgary.

View attachment 395050

I am happy for you and glad that Calgary works for you. Alot of people for cultural reasons would much prefer Toronto. I'm not talking politics. Toronto is a vibrant cultural city and for alot of people that matters alot.

I think your description of Toronto was a tad harsh. I could just as reasonably say Calgary looks like Kitchener and London Ontario thrown together with a few office towers in between. Both cities have alot of good with some bad.

 

[Captain Bowie]

I am happy for you and glad that Calgary works for you. Alot of people for cultural reasons would much prefer Toronto. I'm not talking politics. Toronto is a vibrant cultural city and for alot of people that matters alot.

I think your description of Toronto was a tad harsh. I could just as reasonably say Calgary looks like Kitchener and London Ontario thrown together with a few office towers in between. Both cities have alot of good with some bad.

Most cities in Canada are extremely multicultural. Calgary among them. That is not unique to Toronto.

 

[Rubi]

If it wasn't dark I'd show off my view of Mt. Baker.

But from Vanvouver world-class skiing, hiking and golf is all within a 30 minute drive.

See!! It's not just Toronto. We're competitive with the prairie provinces too.

Vancouver is a beautiful city and I always enjoy going there. Too bad their hockey team sucks.

Plenty of nice golf courses around Calgary too. One of my faves is the 36 hole Kananaskis Country Golf Course. It also has very reasonable green fee rate. We charge all foreigners (non-Albertans) an extra $30 a round to play... and yet they still come. We definitely have to up that $30 charge.

Kananaskis Country Golf Course - Alberta, Canada

 

[King K Rool]

Alberta is Texas, in many ways. Even have their own separatist movement.

It's true. Even the capitals are similar. Austin is the left-wing capital of an extremely blue state. Austin has a thriving music scene and has tirelessly developed a huge focus on the arts. You could say these exact same things about Edmonton.

 

[LEAFSANDBILLSFAN]

Most cities in Canada are extremely multicultural. Calgary among them. That is not unique to Toronto.

You are not incorrect in that assessment. There is a difference though. Toronto has blown way past being a city with multiculturalism to being a full fledged multicultural city. Outside Montreal you will not find the same mixture of African, Caribbean, South East Asian, Asian, Latin, Arab, and Eastern European that you find here. There is no comparison between the cultural identity of Toronto and Calgary. Neither is bad and people will prefer either one based on their own preferences.

Heck I know people who have moved out to Kitchener, Brantford, Barrie, Oshawa, and Hamilton due to the soaring costs of GTA housing. All those cities have become increasingly multicultural as well and yet Toronto is still greatly missed.

 

[2023FriendshipTour]

It's true. Even the capitals are similar. Austin is the left-wing capital of an extremely blue state. Austin has a thriving music scene and has tirelessly developed a huge focus on the arts. You could say these exact same things about Edmonton.

Edmonton is so progressive that the federal conservatives swept the city.

 

[Rubi]

You are not incorrect in that assessment. There is a difference though. Toronto has blown way past being a city with multiculturalism to being a full fledged multicultural city. Outside Montreal you will not find the same mixture of African, Caribbean, South East Asian, Asian, Latin, Arab, and Eastern European that you find here. There is no comparison between the cultural identity of Toronto and Calgary. Neither is bad and people will prefer either one based on their own preferences.

My mother, if she were still alive, and my step-father (he's dead too) would have hated living in Toronto. They spent a good portion of their lives living in Belleville Ontario (2 hrs east of Toronto) and lets just say that multi cultural acceptance was not their forte. Not one of their more attractive qualities.

 

[LEAFSANDBILLSFAN]

My mother, if she were still alive, and my step-father (he's dead too) would have hated living in Toronto. They spent a good portion of their lives living in Belleville Ontario (2 hrs east of Toronto) and lets just say that multi cultural acceptance was not their forte.

I'm not sure what you're trying to say here. I love all of Canada. I'll end here.

Edmonton vs. Montreal tomorrow.

This game feels like the beginning of the 2nd stage of the season.

 

[ThrowDemTongs]

If it wasn't dark I'd show off my view of Mt. Baker.

But from Vanvouver world-class skiing, hiking and golf is all within a 30 minute drive.

See!! It's not just Toronto. We're competitive with the prairie provinces too.

Are we just going to flex Baker pics on these mere mortals?

 

[Rubi]

It's true. Even the capitals are similar. Austin is the left-wing capital of an extremely blue state. Austin has a thriving music scene and has tirelessly developed a huge focus on the arts. You could say these exact same things about Edmonton.

Government cities, for the most part, seem to vote more liberal than conservative. Not sure why because its not like everyone living in those cities is a government employee but they seem to take their cue from those employees.

 

[Leaf Fans]

I can’t see Montreal losing on Saturday. They shut down Marner and Matthews, both were pretty invisible. And you’re not getting goals from Mik-whatever and Holl again

We are in the internet age. You can watch it anytime if you are busy. Failing that, you can watch the highlights. No need to miss the game.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Leafs are the best team in the North, confirmed. A statement was made tonight.

It is a two game set. There is still a chance for a split.

 

[leaffaninvancouver]

Nelson is amazing. I love the lakefront area. My best friend lives right on the river in Castlegar. Been to see him more than a few times and everytime you see Bald Eagles flying over the river. Wonderful sight indeed. He works in Trail and is a huge skier so Rossland being right there works for him.

Fingers crossed I can retire on Vancouver Island someday. I took my fiance there to show her why I love it and now she understands. She's a Kitchener girl and was mostly interested in Nanaimo for the dessert bars. She quickly learned how pathetically touristy that was. Showed her Roger's Chocolates in Victoria and she found a new love.

Vancouver Island is a wonderful place, I hope you find a way to get there.

 

[Leaf Fans]

Both teams are playoff teams. Thats all that can be evaluated at this point in the season.

What is with Western Canadians and their irrational hatred of Toronto? I see Western Canadians on here who cheer for Montreal, Boston, and other teams who go bonkers over their hatred of Toronto. It is borderline mental health.

They are a minority as demonstrated when fans were allowed in the building. Leaf fans are 50-60% of the crowd. That is the source in my opinion.

 

[Rubi]

Vancouver Island is a wonderful place, I hope you find a way to get there.

I hate rain. It also pisses me off to have to pay almost $60 to drive my car on or off the island and another $18 per adult passenger in my vehicle.
The Okanagan will be my retirement home. Lots of sunshine and relatively little snow to shovel in winter either. Great wines too. The lakes aren't half bad either.

 

[LeafChief]

I can’t see Montreal losing on Saturday. They shut down Marner and Matthews, both were pretty invisible. And you’re not getting goals from Mik-whatever and Holl again

I remember when you were supremely confident that Ottawa was going to sneak up on a lot of teams this year and push for a playoff spot.

Dark days. Dark days indeed.

 

[TopChedder]

Really? I find the opposite, for some reason Toronto fans can’t stand Vancouver/Edmonton.

Nope. It is only one way. People living in Toronto couldn't give a crap about westerners. I actually find it hilarious the obsession westerners have with hating all things Toronto (goes beyond sports)

I love it out west as an avid hiker and backcountry camper.

 

[LeafsNation75]

Everyones happy. Leafs get the two points with some 4v4 goals. Habs fans still get to curl up with their 5v5 underlyings and pretend that proves something. Everything in its right place.

The only thing you forgot was Mikheyev scored the Leafs 3rd goal it was at 5v5.