Vancouverites may be disappointed their city is no longer number one for livability according to The Economist, a ranking it lost two years ago to Melbourne after almost a decade at the top. But Canada as a whole continues to rank very well, with three cities in the top 10.
Quote:
But perhaps Vancouver residents shouldn't be too upset with the latest report. Last year, The Economist noted that the ranking had been conducted before the city's downtown riot, which it said was likely to cause the city to "head downward in subsequent iterations."
But riots be damned. Vancouver ranked and scored the same as last year.
Quote:
The Top 10:
1. Melbourne 97.5
2. Vienna 97.4
3. Vancouver 97.3
4. Toronto 97.2
5. Calgary 96.6
6. Adelaide 96.6
7. Sydney 96.1
8. Helsinki 96.0
9. Perth 95.9
10. Auckland 95.7
I don't know... I kind of agree with Bleedblack. Sometimes I wonder what the total criteria is that these people use when gauging cities. Calgary @ #5 is just an absolute head scratcher. I'd even argue Toronto is way too high up there. The city has a lot of rough spots and in the summer, the way the smell of garbage rises up into the air...
Without understanding the math behind the rankings and criticizing the logic in their "objective" ranking system it's really hard to say much at all
In my opinion Vancouver is going to drop further though in the short to medium term, I feel that the economy here is going to take a turn for the worse
I lived there for years, I have no need to argue about it. I'm not going to call it a complete and utter dump or anything, it was an okay place, but it just makes me laugh to see it near the top of a list like this.
I did a trip around Canada. From BC to PEI. Other than Manitoba, Alberta was the 2nd worse province. Maybe I was extreme with using dump, but like the other poster said I find it hilarious to see it in the top 5.
Honestly if the 2011 Cup riot is going to drop us in whatever rankings they use, then those rankings can't be very good. The riot was a one off thing where no one really got hurt, just a big mess was made which we had cleaned up the next morning. As someone who's lived down town for the past 3-4 years I have no idea how this would make it less 'liveable'.
I live in the DTES and for those who love food, parks and have a positive view on the innate value of humanity it is like paradise. Albeit there is a rampant drug culture and associated behaviours and some run down buildings. However, there is more than meets the eye.
Believe me... walk around Hastings for two hours and try to be objectively positive while having some conversations with people setting aside any prejudices and you'll be surprised.
These stupid rankings have to be stopped. Why do Vancouverites have an inferiority complex where they have to trot out the 'most livable city!!!!!' thing all the time. I've been to so many cities and met so many different nationalities and I've never heard anybody mention it. Even those from Swiss nationals who have cities in those rankings.
I don't know... I kind of agree with Bleedblack. Sometimes I wonder what the total criteria is that these people use when gauging cities. Calgary @ #5 is just an absolute head scratcher. I'd even argue Toronto is way too high up there. The city has a lot of rough spots and in the summer, the way the smell of garbage rises up into the air...
Nuff said.
Everywhere within a few miles of the fraser river smells during the summer months too.
I live here. It's a boring city. Cookie cutter communities ALL OVER the place. The "livability" must stem from the "booming" (sort of) economy. Homes can be affordable and the road system is pretty good. Transit is not as good as Vancouver and the rapid transit (LRT) is less effecient than the Skytrain. The winters suck and can make it unliveable - however the past winter wasn't as bad as my first winter here (07/08). In Vancouver I could only afford to rent an apartment and take transit to work and school. In Calgary my wife and I own a house with a big back yard and two vehicles. It's definitely easier to set up family in Calgary (and area) then it is in Vancouver unless you want to move to Maple Ridge or further out.
I did a trip around Canada. From BC to PEI. Other than Manitoba, Alberta was the 2nd worse province. Maybe I was extreme with using dump, but like the other poster said I find it hilarious to see it in the top 5.
That's why it's ranking livability and not visitability.
I lived there and have many connections in the city. Outside of the downtown core, and three or four neighbourhoods that most Calgarians have no real appreciation for, the city is bland suburban sprawling hell. It is surreal really. Cookie cutter neighbourhoods where you open your back door and see 30 identical homes and have no privacy. Flat, yellow, no trees, brand new suburbs as far as you can see with no history or character. Nowhere to go and and nothing to do except drink and admire your two car garage. Most Calgarians, however, are happy and really don't care. They're usually pretty friendly too as long as you don't trash Calgary or talk politics.
I lived there and have many connections in the city. Outside of the downtown core, and three or four neighbourhoods that most Calgarians have no real appreciation for, the city is bland suburban sprawling hell. It is surreal really. Cookie cutter neighbourhoods where you open your back door and see 30 identical homes and have no privacy. Flat, yellow, no trees, brand new suburbs as far as you can see with no history or character. Nowhere to go and and nothing to do except drink and admire your two car garage. Most Calgarians, however, are happy and really don't care. They're usually pretty friendly too as long as you don't trash Calgary or talk politics.
Well, there you go. High availability of inexpensive housing certainly impacts these studies.
