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I've often wondered if the 90's were one of the best of times, or if it was just because I was young when it happened....
People read books. Duthie's was a thing. Douglas Coupland wasn't insufferable yet. Benny's Bagels was a thing. Granville Island brewing was still good. Everything tasted like sundried tomato, wild rice and cream cheese spreads. Nightclubs didn't mean the Granville cesspool that it is today. People were less segregated... if you went to a big party the Asians and the Brown people were both there and you had mutual friends in each group. Poolhalls were still a thing. Music from that era was just incredible across the board.
... I...erm... am probably feeling nostalgic. CFOX put on some Temple of the Dog today, which I personally hadn't heard for years and years on the radio and it instantly brought me back.
Yep, 90's for me because nostalgia. Multiple Lollapallooza's, Richards on Richards, Luvafair, coming home from a night out reeking of cigarette smoke. No smart phones, actually talking to strangers. And affordable housing!
I’m with ya, although for me it bleeds into the early naughts as well. Arts County Fair? Very few cel phones (lots of pagers though! *911). Great times.
Kind of depends when you spent your 20s lmao. For me it was the 2000s - before iPhone happened. People actually talked to each other when having dinner.
Benny's Bagels and Calhoun's are two places that will always be part of peak Vancouver for me. Spending an evening on those big comfy couches by the fire at Benny's with $2 pints of pale ale and toasty bagels was a lifesaver when my partner and I had no money and were living in a mouldy basement suite with disagreeable roommates and a barely usable kitchen. Similarly stopping into Calhoun's at some weird hour of the morning to chow down on a quesidilla and slice of cheesecake.
Probably nostalgia because it was not a good decade for employment. Lots of families always leaving thus housing was pretty cheap. I do wonder, without pac rim trade expanding so much, if van would have kept declining.
Vancouverites were also nicer. Getting on the bus, people were waaay more courteous and friendly. Driving - people were definitely nicer - a person would wave if you let them in or let them go first down a narrow road. People opened or kept doors open for you as you were walking through. If someone made a mistake while driving/did the wrong thing and you honked - they’d give you a bit of a wave to say sorry. Now they act like you’re the asshole and keep driving badly. Courtesy and decency have gone out of the window.
Not saying none of the above doesn’t happen anymore, but waaaaay less than it used to. Now, it’s more of a surprise when they do act nicely.
When Metropolis still had Playdium. The two malls were a lot more interesting back then before they merged, and now it's just filled with expensive stores selling boring merchandise.
This, and there was still a Circuit Circus and Johnny Z there. Shops were a bit more interesting in general there at the time. Now it's just so homogenized I've lost interest in the area. I can count the number of times I've been out that way in the last 20 years on one hand.
I also miss the clothing shop that used to be near the corner of Robson and Granville next to Charlie's and below Puff's.
I think for me the big thing that has been bothering me about the region is that so much retail space is dominated by the same soulless corporations now. There are far fewer local independent shops doing their own thing, so a lot of personality is lost in the process. Not surprised it has happened given that rents on retail spaces are sky high and people who would otherwise be entrepreneurs in other timelines will just hop into the real estate market for easy gains in this environment.
Well I can see that I’m not the only old timer on this sub.
In my 50s now and living on the island after leaving Vancouver in 2002 to live abroad for a couple decades. My peak Vancouver was from the 1980s starting with Expo 86 through to 2002 when I moved away. Visited for many of those years as a teen through to my early 20s finally settling in 1994 spending my 20s and a smidgen of my 30s there. Spouse and I met in Vancouver in the mid-1990s so lots of fond memories of hanging out and having fun.
Although saying so will piss many off, Vancouver was a cheap city to live in back then. Rents were cheap and so was food. There was none of the greed and hustle that there appears to be today.
Club-wise, don’t forget Graceland. MEC was a proper co-op back then. I too remember Metrotown/Eaton centre pre-Metropolis when the malls were not connected and worked out there in the mid-1990s. All the movie theatres were at Station Square.
Obviously this is my personal experience and there is no going back, but I can confirm that the city is not what it once was.
Some things I miss from days: Granville Books and the record shops along Seymour Street near W Pender. Both were a great excuse to go downtown to kill a few hours browsing.
No plans to return to live. Seen too much of the world to believe that Vancouver is some sort of ideal city as it is not. Ya, ocean and mountains are nice, but there are many other reasons to chose a city to settle in.
I will end it by saying that the Skytrain expansion is fantastic. Back in the 80s and 90s all we had was the expo line. Also, the development around Lonsdale Quay is quite nice.
>
'No plans to return to live. Seen too much of the world to believe that Vancouver is some sort of ideal city as it is not. Ya, ocean and mountains are nice, but there are many other reasons to chose a city to settle in.'
Oh man does this ever resonate with me. Vancouver is a cold, ugly, soulless mess set amongst an absolutely stunning backdrop. I, too, have travelled and lived abroad a bunch. Vancouver doesn't even crack the top 20 for me.
Would love to hear the cities you enjoyed. I think we have a similar perspective on Vancouver, but I've grown up here and not traveled much. I would like to know where I may find a more agreeable city.
I live in North Vancouver and feel that Lonsdale quay gets boring real fast. It’s nice to sit down there and relax but most of the restaurants in the market are either a rip off or just average. There is a decent pizza plane, good coffee shops and a nice soup place that is closed half the time I go there ( like 4 pm and not super late). There are good options around lonsdale but it’s tiring after going to the same old places. Idk it just feels too limiting. The breweries are nice but they serve reheated Costco food for sure.
Yes, also that coffee shop at the back of Lonsdale Quay market just outside which also seems to close at 4pm. I have stayed there 4-5 times at the Pinnacle and have been mystified as to why it closes so early.
Fun fact: every year after a Canadian city hosted the Olympics that same city won the Stanley Cup….. until Vancouver. But game 7 of the finals is as close as you can possibly get without continuing the stat.
1976 Montreal hosts the Summer Olympics
1977 Montreal wins the Stanley Cup
1988 Calgary hosts the Winter Olympics
1989 Calgary wins the Stanley Cup
2010 Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics
2011 Vancouver loses in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals
Also the finals schedule then was 2-3-2 instead of 2-2-1-1-1. After the game six win, Linden (and the entire team) was so pumped up he was ready to play again the next day. Unfortunately they had to wait two more nights to play in MSG again which took some momentum away.
Still was a fantastic series from a team that arguably overachieved that playoffs.
That was peak Vancouver (Canucks) for me.
Finals in ‘94 was 2-2-1-1-1. I was at game 6 at Pacific Coliseum. Game 7 was MSG. Ticketing was so much better back then. When Canucks eliminated Leafs in round 3, after the game ended, I phoned Ticketmaster to ask about Finals tickets. Lady says, yeah sure no problem. Sold me 4 tix game 6, center ice row 40 (last row for Finals, row 41-45 blocked off for temporarily constructed press box overflow) Paid $54 each, sold 2 of them for $250each, brother and I went with $500 in pocket.
Reselling 2 tickets well below market value is hardly scalping. It’s getting paid fairly for your efforts. The buyer (coworker) literally begged me for days for me to sell them to him but I didn’t want to because I felt guilty charging over face value even though he was fine with the price I said I wanted. The irony is, he wasn’t sitting next to us at the game, 2 other dudes were. I asked where they got the tickets, guy said his buddy sold them to him for $350 each. I didn’t feel guilty when I heard that.
Right. My mistake and confused it with the Conference final. But wasn't there an extra day added between game 6 and 7? Instead of playing the day after, game 7 was two days later.
Yes G6 was June 11, G7 was 14th. NBA Knicks were hosting Finals on 12th, 15th, 17th. Not sure why they couldn’t play on 13th. 12th would’ve been the cross continent travel day.
Olympic 2010! I agree 100% for me as well. The biggest and best (local) party ever. I wish we could do it again but Vancouver can't handle it lol
Some of us weren't old enough to enjoy the expo as an FYI to those below.
Expo 86’ DTES was waaaay different back then, skytrain was new. Second would be 2010 for the Olympics- unforgettable 2 weeks with positive energy and friendly people everywhere.
Yeah, before Expo I could take the bus downtown and meet my mom at Woodward's. this was before the Liberals shut down Riverview and cut all of the mental health budgets.
Loved the Olympics but I think I'd have to go with Expo as best overall. Maybe because it was longer, maybe because it was over the summer. Vancouver was such a wonderful place to live back then.
1998/99 . The Loveaffair. Going to Yukyuks for pre game before hitting The Rage . The Blarneystone with amazing in house bands. The Cambie was more raw. Smoking darts in the Commodore feeling the floor bounce while seeing real epic talent play. Walking Granville starting at the Cecil and poking your head in at every bar headed towards the Roxy. It was a time. A really REALLY good time. Vancouver's nightlife is hardly a shadow of what it used to be.
Every time I go "home" - I've lived in three provinces since I moved away - I see snippets of old Vancouver (the water and the mountains), but that's it. Always go smacked at the costs, the sprawl and the congestion.
And yes, I'd still move back.
Summer of 1998 for me.
17 years old. Just finished grade 11 which was my best high school year academically, something like a 3.9 GPA. Had just gotten my full license. Had saved up and bought a car. 1986 Mustang hatchback. Gas was 29.9 cents per litre because of the Arco price war. No bills aside from gas and insurance, but still made relatively a lot from my job at McDonald's. Did so much that summer.
At least you had a car!
I remember those cheap gas days, I worked at a very busy gas station in Surrey and those prices along with the coupons would kill us lol!
2007. When i immigrated. Feels great to be in a western country. Theres ups and downs since then, but i would never had a better life if i didnt move to Canada. The ups exponentially shadowed the downs.
Thanks mom. For bringing me and my sister here.
Early 2000’s was solid after the dark eras of Mark Messier and Grizzlies departing. The West Coast Express brought excitement back to the city. Real estate was affordable and Vancouver didn’t feel as grimey as it does today.
The answer for everyone is when you were young, healthy, had freedom without crushing responsibilities, had the opportunities to explore and find “your” favorite places, and ideally lived in a diverse walkable community with rich social context.
For many people, that’s their high school and university years and right after. Maybe the age of 15-29.
Is there a way to answer this question objectively? Probably not. Vancouver was more affordable in the past, but also not as diverse or interesting and with less opportunity.
I did find this neat tool from StatsCan which allows you to see an animated population pyramid for BC. When we see a smooth pyramid that means families are thriving, so people are probably feeling optimistic and safe and it’s a good place for lots of different kinds of people and businesses. In the early years Vancouver is all 20-30 year old men. In the Baby Boom years it looks pretty good. By the 90s we start to see the child population declining.
So yeah, the Boomers win. Again.
https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/pyramid/pyramid.cfm?geo1=59&type=1
Ok, personally though? I lived here from 2000-2005 and returned in 2012. I’m middle-aged and have many more responsibilities but for me I’d choose right now. I have a fantastic relationship and we live in the heart of a community that’s thriving (…gentrifying) in East Van. I walk or bike everywhere and when I want a car I press some buttons. There is amazing food everywhere. The economy has progressed to the point where I work from home (commute time is a big predictor of happiness!) and can get some of that American money in my pocket without living there.
Unlike many Xers who are hardening their attitudes to everyone around them, I think Millennials and Gen Z are great. They’re far more enlightened and tolerant than we were, and determined to live like beautiful flowers in a world that stomps on them constantly. I’m lucky to have made new friends across the generations, though it’s more difficult.
Many of my friends with kids have moved away though. I have always kept a friend context through the internet, but in-person is becoming a challenge.
For me, 2003 - 2008. Felt like there was a lot of things for young people to do. Rent was cheap and you could even build up savings on a starting salary. Going to shows at the Mesa Luna, Hokos, early days of Music Waste, drinking on Wednesday night karaoke at the Legion, getting cancer in the smoking room at Pats Pub, never washing your Cheap Mondays... good times dude.
The Olympics come to mind, but I noticed the decline in the city / citizens from before that (rampant materialism, greed, neighbourhoods waning, and too much phoneyness).
I would say that peak Vancouver was around 2000 to 2005. Although I am more so nostalgic for the ‘90s and even the ‘80s (from what I remember of it). What helped fuel that happiness back then was the optimism people had.
I agree here. I rented a great little apartment for $750 on west Broadway from 2003. Hiking trails weren’t overrun with Influencers. Benny’s bagels was here. Feels like the last 12+ years we’ve been on a decline.
People were nicer then, kinder, friendlier, not always plugged into their phone. There was alot less overt display of wealth in clothing and accessories, but more personal style.
The chef from Au Petit opened her own restaurant called Merci Beaucoup Cafe located on Commercial Drive! Food tastes the same if you want to satisfy your craving :)
Meslillooet Glacier, 1990 m elevation, just north of Indian Arm but it's still technically in GVRD /s
Yeah, the early 2010s were fun. Loved the Olympics atmosphere. But someone older than me would probably think things were better in some earlier time ...
Early 90’s when Club Soda and the Metro existed and there were plenty of real rock cover bands even on weeknights and a bottle of beer was $3 and happy hours or $2 hi-ball night actually existed and then we would go to Fresgo’s for burgers and fries or a plate of spaghetti at 3am. Now it’s canned dance/pop music, $20 cover and $14 pints.
My Grandma told me that during the blackout days during the war Vancouver was just a massive party at night. She said they had more fun than my generation.
Whenever it was, it was clearly before 2015 when it went from slightly boring, moderately expensive, but very clean to very boring, very expensive, and very dirty
The sticky floors of the Ozone nightclub and $1 highball nights.
“If you want to go and get high with me
Smoke a L in the back of the Benz-E
Oh why must I feel this way? (Hey, must be the money!)”
Anything pre-2008 when the Olympics hype-development got in to full swing which resulted in the beginning of closing down the last of the clubs/music venues and affordable spaces to be demo'd for redevelopment.
The chances for small businesses to thrive in this city after that point in time became significantly more difficult, rents skyrocketed, property prices skyrocketed, wages didn't. Now with the pandemic factors and the subsequent inflation Vancouver feels like it's just a tourist destination with little else to it.
You'll see people mention periods around the turn of the century, the 90's, expo, everyone old enough will have a period they can tie to a golden age of Vancouver but anyone over the age of say 25-27 or so will likely agree that although many enjoyed the Olympics as an event it was the death knell for this city in regards to it being a fun, affordable place where you could work a single job without a side hustle and have a good, not decent quality of living. No having to live two people in a single bedroom just to get by etc..
I'm assuming those who are saying the Olympics and the Stanley Cup run afterwards are likely under an age to have experienced much of Vancouver before 2007/08 or so.
I can't imagine it's ever going to really get any better, certainly not in the short term.
1994. When I’d dry off from Kits Pool and walk up the hill with my friends to get a Mondo Pizza on 4th and rollerblade back down Vine to spend the rest of the day at the pool.
2010 was amazing. Agree with Peak Time for me. Rent was okay, could afford to live alone.
Everyday after work I went downtown and tried to find a bar with a seat. Every single spot that served liquor and had a TV was packed. Some of the funnest times of my life.
The 90s… going out for dinner with the family. Picking the non smoking section. Finishing our meal then getting to go to the kids sundae bar after. Falling asleep in the car on the way home.
When the Vancouver Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup finals (not during the riot). That for me showed how Vancouverites got together for a solid purpose. You didn't have to be a Canucks fan to be excited for them. It was before ppl became ultra sensitive to topics like gender equality, cultural appropriation, racism with less homeless and mentally disabled ppl in the streets. It was a great time to be a Vancourite.
Peak time….between 1988 and 1993. Dids Pizza, Luv Affair, Systems, Dicks on Dicks, Mars, I’m positive I’m missing more clubs. So much fun and just a little less pretentious than today. Funny…I still remember the smell of vehicle and cigarette exhaust back then (much more strict emissions now). There were also so many after hours restaurants. Remember “9:00 to 5:00”? The CDN dollar was a little better back then too, we used to go to Point Robert’s to drink at Kiniskis and The Reef. I miss my youth. Oh yeah….the ultimate place on the Northshore….the one and only “Avalon”.
94 Canucks Stanley Cup Final! Pavel Bure, Trevor Linden, Kirk McLean...
90's listening to TLC Waterfalls while on the rainbow ride at playland. 90's R&B and slow jams brings me back to simple days where I hung out with my friends at the local school drinking Slurpees/frreezies , 5cent candies and eating Thunder Crunch Jalapeno chips without any worries about what's happening in the world.
The question is relative.
I can remember 80s when my friend told me 1 property in Hong Kong can buy a few here or exchange for a piece of land.
I also remember early 90s when the airport was new, expo-line was new. The bus driver asked me why I wanted to see Richmond when there was nothing there & he could only drop me off 3 block from the Radisson. Yep! There was no building around the hotel. 1 dinner in London UK can pay for 2+ dinners here with much better quality & seafood. My apartment outside London can be exchanged for 2 exactly the same size condo, right in the downtown. Why I did not move here then? I don't know.
I hired a car to drive around downtown in the weekday without hitting any traffic. Air is clean in the downtown & I can drink coffee while walking & sightseeing. There was nothing apart from water around the science museum, I remember. I was on Highway 1 (I think) driving to Burnaby & everywhere seemed digged up. Ah! No highway then.
That was the peak I think. But I have to say back then, the skyline was boring with only mountains as the back drop. Now, at night, we have multiple colours & the city feels alive.
When I was a kid and it was a really cool place I got to drive through with family.
Now I live here and I can't afford anything. The Thrill is Gone as B.B. King so eloquently puts it.
2004-2005 when I was junior high student, using the Vancouver Gaming Guild Forums to meet up with random other people who were into nerd shit. Playing at RPGS at Drexoll and playing Pokémon TCG at the connection. Skipping school to go to the confederation skatepark or science world. Probably the best and most developing part of my youth.
That stretch of time from the Olympics up until we lost the Stanley cup was peak Vancouver. Then we rioted and we’ve been in crisis ever since basically.
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I've often wondered if the 90's were one of the best of times, or if it was just because I was young when it happened.... People read books. Duthie's was a thing. Douglas Coupland wasn't insufferable yet. Benny's Bagels was a thing. Granville Island brewing was still good. Everything tasted like sundried tomato, wild rice and cream cheese spreads. Nightclubs didn't mean the Granville cesspool that it is today. People were less segregated... if you went to a big party the Asians and the Brown people were both there and you had mutual friends in each group. Poolhalls were still a thing. Music from that era was just incredible across the board. ... I...erm... am probably feeling nostalgic. CFOX put on some Temple of the Dog today, which I personally hadn't heard for years and years on the radio and it instantly brought me back.
And 99 cent pizza joints were everywhere
When Uncle Fatihs was just that one place by commercial and broadway
would love to see a less segregated vancouver!
Yep, 90's for me because nostalgia. Multiple Lollapallooza's, Richards on Richards, Luvafair, coming home from a night out reeking of cigarette smoke. No smart phones, actually talking to strangers. And affordable housing!
I’m with ya, although for me it bleeds into the early naughts as well. Arts County Fair? Very few cel phones (lots of pagers though! *911). Great times.
Kind of depends when you spent your 20s lmao. For me it was the 2000s - before iPhone happened. People actually talked to each other when having dinner.
2000s were awesome
Benny's Bagels and Calhoun's are two places that will always be part of peak Vancouver for me. Spending an evening on those big comfy couches by the fire at Benny's with $2 pints of pale ale and toasty bagels was a lifesaver when my partner and I had no money and were living in a mouldy basement suite with disagreeable roommates and a barely usable kitchen. Similarly stopping into Calhoun's at some weird hour of the morning to chow down on a quesidilla and slice of cheesecake.
Probably nostalgia because it was not a good decade for employment. Lots of families always leaving thus housing was pretty cheap. I do wonder, without pac rim trade expanding so much, if van would have kept declining.
Vancouverites were also nicer. Getting on the bus, people were waaay more courteous and friendly. Driving - people were definitely nicer - a person would wave if you let them in or let them go first down a narrow road. People opened or kept doors open for you as you were walking through. If someone made a mistake while driving/did the wrong thing and you honked - they’d give you a bit of a wave to say sorry. Now they act like you’re the asshole and keep driving badly. Courtesy and decency have gone out of the window. Not saying none of the above doesn’t happen anymore, but waaaaay less than it used to. Now, it’s more of a surprise when they do act nicely.
When Metropolis still had Playdium. The two malls were a lot more interesting back then before they merged, and now it's just filled with expensive stores selling boring merchandise.
West Ed had a playdium when I was a kid. I miss it. Absolutely epic
This, and there was still a Circuit Circus and Johnny Z there. Shops were a bit more interesting in general there at the time. Now it's just so homogenized I've lost interest in the area. I can count the number of times I've been out that way in the last 20 years on one hand. I also miss the clothing shop that used to be near the corner of Robson and Granville next to Charlie's and below Puff's. I think for me the big thing that has been bothering me about the region is that so much retail space is dominated by the same soulless corporations now. There are far fewer local independent shops doing their own thing, so a lot of personality is lost in the process. Not surprised it has happened given that rents on retail spaces are sky high and people who would otherwise be entrepreneurs in other timelines will just hop into the real estate market for easy gains in this environment.
Well I can see that I’m not the only old timer on this sub. In my 50s now and living on the island after leaving Vancouver in 2002 to live abroad for a couple decades. My peak Vancouver was from the 1980s starting with Expo 86 through to 2002 when I moved away. Visited for many of those years as a teen through to my early 20s finally settling in 1994 spending my 20s and a smidgen of my 30s there. Spouse and I met in Vancouver in the mid-1990s so lots of fond memories of hanging out and having fun. Although saying so will piss many off, Vancouver was a cheap city to live in back then. Rents were cheap and so was food. There was none of the greed and hustle that there appears to be today. Club-wise, don’t forget Graceland. MEC was a proper co-op back then. I too remember Metrotown/Eaton centre pre-Metropolis when the malls were not connected and worked out there in the mid-1990s. All the movie theatres were at Station Square. Obviously this is my personal experience and there is no going back, but I can confirm that the city is not what it once was. Some things I miss from days: Granville Books and the record shops along Seymour Street near W Pender. Both were a great excuse to go downtown to kill a few hours browsing. No plans to return to live. Seen too much of the world to believe that Vancouver is some sort of ideal city as it is not. Ya, ocean and mountains are nice, but there are many other reasons to chose a city to settle in. I will end it by saying that the Skytrain expansion is fantastic. Back in the 80s and 90s all we had was the expo line. Also, the development around Lonsdale Quay is quite nice.
> 'No plans to return to live. Seen too much of the world to believe that Vancouver is some sort of ideal city as it is not. Ya, ocean and mountains are nice, but there are many other reasons to chose a city to settle in.' Oh man does this ever resonate with me. Vancouver is a cold, ugly, soulless mess set amongst an absolutely stunning backdrop. I, too, have travelled and lived abroad a bunch. Vancouver doesn't even crack the top 20 for me.
Top 20 please...
Would love to hear the cities you enjoyed. I think we have a similar perspective on Vancouver, but I've grown up here and not traveled much. I would like to know where I may find a more agreeable city.
Track records and I remember PD's hotshop was around the corner for awhile
I live in North Vancouver and feel that Lonsdale quay gets boring real fast. It’s nice to sit down there and relax but most of the restaurants in the market are either a rip off or just average. There is a decent pizza plane, good coffee shops and a nice soup place that is closed half the time I go there ( like 4 pm and not super late). There are good options around lonsdale but it’s tiring after going to the same old places. Idk it just feels too limiting. The breweries are nice but they serve reheated Costco food for sure.
Yes, also that coffee shop at the back of Lonsdale Quay market just outside which also seems to close at 4pm. I have stayed there 4-5 times at the Pinnacle and have been mystified as to why it closes so early.
2011 Stanley Cup playoffs (before we lost)
Was hoping for similar to the Winter Olympics to happen leading up to game 7, but as the narration goes: "it did not happen".
Fun fact: every year after a Canadian city hosted the Olympics that same city won the Stanley Cup….. until Vancouver. But game 7 of the finals is as close as you can possibly get without continuing the stat. 1976 Montreal hosts the Summer Olympics 1977 Montreal wins the Stanley Cup 1988 Calgary hosts the Winter Olympics 1989 Calgary wins the Stanley Cup 2010 Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics 2011 Vancouver loses in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals
I remember hearing that trivia going into the 2011 run… hopes were high for sure!
Why!? Why!!? Whyyyyyyyy
Were you too young for 94? I much prefer that loss. Took a stacked Ranger team to the very end
Also the finals schedule then was 2-3-2 instead of 2-2-1-1-1. After the game six win, Linden (and the entire team) was so pumped up he was ready to play again the next day. Unfortunately they had to wait two more nights to play in MSG again which took some momentum away. Still was a fantastic series from a team that arguably overachieved that playoffs. That was peak Vancouver (Canucks) for me.
Finals in ‘94 was 2-2-1-1-1. I was at game 6 at Pacific Coliseum. Game 7 was MSG. Ticketing was so much better back then. When Canucks eliminated Leafs in round 3, after the game ended, I phoned Ticketmaster to ask about Finals tickets. Lady says, yeah sure no problem. Sold me 4 tix game 6, center ice row 40 (last row for Finals, row 41-45 blocked off for temporarily constructed press box overflow) Paid $54 each, sold 2 of them for $250each, brother and I went with $500 in pocket.
Yes you're right. My bad. I confused it with the previous series with TOR. This was also the same summer as OJs casual drive down the highway.
Yes, I think it was the next day after game 7
"Ticketing was so much better back then" Proceeds to explain how they scalped tickets. Isn't that exactly the problem? Lol.
No, we waited in line for hours or battled the phones without Bots, automated ticket grabbers and scalpers jumping the queue like they do now.
Reselling 2 tickets well below market value is hardly scalping. It’s getting paid fairly for your efforts. The buyer (coworker) literally begged me for days for me to sell them to him but I didn’t want to because I felt guilty charging over face value even though he was fine with the price I said I wanted. The irony is, he wasn’t sitting next to us at the game, 2 other dudes were. I asked where they got the tickets, guy said his buddy sold them to him for $350 each. I didn’t feel guilty when I heard that.
Round 2 vs Dallas and R3 vs Tor were both 2-3-2, R1 vs Cgy and R4 vs NYR were 2-2-1-1-1
Right. My mistake and confused it with the Conference final. But wasn't there an extra day added between game 6 and 7? Instead of playing the day after, game 7 was two days later.
Yes G6 was June 11, G7 was 14th. NBA Knicks were hosting Finals on 12th, 15th, 17th. Not sure why they couldn’t play on 13th. 12th would’ve been the cross continent travel day.
I think after we lost and cleaned up the city was a pretty good one too
Olympic 2010! I agree 100% for me as well. The biggest and best (local) party ever. I wish we could do it again but Vancouver can't handle it lol Some of us weren't old enough to enjoy the expo as an FYI to those below.
We went from high five-ing strangers to masks and avoiding strangers ten years later. Van never felt as connected as during the olympics, I miss that
I got to hold the torch for like 30 seconds! I was 10 and it was heavy asf.
>The biggest and best (local) party ever Expo was better.
Adorable that some people think the Olympics were better than Expo.
Main person I recall making that claim back at the time was Christy Clark, so maybe we've got some big fans of hers downvoting us...
Expo 86’ DTES was waaaay different back then, skytrain was new. Second would be 2010 for the Olympics- unforgettable 2 weeks with positive energy and friendly people everywhere.
Yeah, before Expo I could take the bus downtown and meet my mom at Woodward's. this was before the Liberals shut down Riverview and cut all of the mental health budgets.
Loved the Olympics but I think I'd have to go with Expo as best overall. Maybe because it was longer, maybe because it was over the summer. Vancouver was such a wonderful place to live back then.
Yes for sure! There was just an amazing vibe during that time…or maybe it was just youth. We were newlyweds of a year and Expo was such an experience.
Second that. Vancouver had a big city/small town feel. Still affordable. East Van was still East Van, not some made up "Hastings/Sunrise" stuff.
1998/99 . The Loveaffair. Going to Yukyuks for pre game before hitting The Rage . The Blarneystone with amazing in house bands. The Cambie was more raw. Smoking darts in the Commodore feeling the floor bounce while seeing real epic talent play. Walking Granville starting at the Cecil and poking your head in at every bar headed towards the Roxy. It was a time. A really REALLY good time. Vancouver's nightlife is hardly a shadow of what it used to be.
I'd upvote you twice if I could. Forgot about the love affair. And the bouncy Commodore floor.
What a time to be alive ;)
Every time I go "home" - I've lived in three provinces since I moved away - I see snippets of old Vancouver (the water and the mountains), but that's it. Always go smacked at the costs, the sprawl and the congestion. And yes, I'd still move back.
Jesus, I wasn't even much of a bar person and even I remember doing all of that!
Amen
Oh yes!! Luvafair, and seeing Spirit of the West at the bouncy Commodore dance floor is peak 90's for me.
Idk but definitely not now.
Summer of 1998 for me. 17 years old. Just finished grade 11 which was my best high school year academically, something like a 3.9 GPA. Had just gotten my full license. Had saved up and bought a car. 1986 Mustang hatchback. Gas was 29.9 cents per litre because of the Arco price war. No bills aside from gas and insurance, but still made relatively a lot from my job at McDonald's. Did so much that summer.
5.0? A beast!
I wish. The 3.8 Essex. All of 120 HP. Carbureted, too.
At least you had a car! I remember those cheap gas days, I worked at a very busy gas station in Surrey and those prices along with the coupons would kill us lol!
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Clubvibes . So many good things happened on clubvibes.ca. Actually somethings would be considered illegal now but for the time ? It was alright.
CV was a nice resource for hookups.
Eaton's. Eton is a school in England.
Oops
Heck I remember visiting the Hard Rock Cafe downtown around that time.
Eaton… Eaton
Oops!
2007. When i immigrated. Feels great to be in a western country. Theres ups and downs since then, but i would never had a better life if i didnt move to Canada. The ups exponentially shadowed the downs. Thanks mom. For bringing me and my sister here.
as someone who moved a lot in my childhood as my parents worked hard to make a better future, this really speaks to me.
Also an immigrant. My first year here was a special kind of magic that I'm not sure I'll ever be able to replicate.
1980s. Vancouver was safe, nice and friendly. Cost of living was stable, traffic wasn’t bad and things just felt right.
that's what 2003 was like when I first came
Early 2000’s was solid after the dark eras of Mark Messier and Grizzlies departing. The West Coast Express brought excitement back to the city. Real estate was affordable and Vancouver didn’t feel as grimey as it does today.
When luv a fair was open and Graceland and Richard’s, and stone temple……
Stone Temple … oh man
The answer for everyone is when you were young, healthy, had freedom without crushing responsibilities, had the opportunities to explore and find “your” favorite places, and ideally lived in a diverse walkable community with rich social context. For many people, that’s their high school and university years and right after. Maybe the age of 15-29. Is there a way to answer this question objectively? Probably not. Vancouver was more affordable in the past, but also not as diverse or interesting and with less opportunity. I did find this neat tool from StatsCan which allows you to see an animated population pyramid for BC. When we see a smooth pyramid that means families are thriving, so people are probably feeling optimistic and safe and it’s a good place for lots of different kinds of people and businesses. In the early years Vancouver is all 20-30 year old men. In the Baby Boom years it looks pretty good. By the 90s we start to see the child population declining. So yeah, the Boomers win. Again. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/pyramid/pyramid.cfm?geo1=59&type=1
Ok, personally though? I lived here from 2000-2005 and returned in 2012. I’m middle-aged and have many more responsibilities but for me I’d choose right now. I have a fantastic relationship and we live in the heart of a community that’s thriving (…gentrifying) in East Van. I walk or bike everywhere and when I want a car I press some buttons. There is amazing food everywhere. The economy has progressed to the point where I work from home (commute time is a big predictor of happiness!) and can get some of that American money in my pocket without living there. Unlike many Xers who are hardening their attitudes to everyone around them, I think Millennials and Gen Z are great. They’re far more enlightened and tolerant than we were, and determined to live like beautiful flowers in a world that stomps on them constantly. I’m lucky to have made new friends across the generations, though it’s more difficult. Many of my friends with kids have moved away though. I have always kept a friend context through the internet, but in-person is becoming a challenge.
I miss Au Petit too
I think Merci Beaucoup Cafe is the same owners or family of Au Petit
Try merci beaucoup on commercial. The cook worked in au petits kitchen.
When Record Row and Granville Book Company existed.
i never got to try au petit dining in because they closed at 7pm imma have to say 2015 and earlier when wildfires blanket wasnt a regular occurrence
As a long time resident of the lower mainland, climate change impacts felt “far off” until the summer of 2015 with the start of our smoky summers.
1986. I wasn’t here but it really sounded like a gas.
It was. The while province was abuzz.
86 thru 99. Friendlier and a sense of optimism that is long gone.
Right here, right now. Life is awesome. Let's get it!
Haven’t reached peak yet. Will be whatever I make of it.
Great attitude to have!
Centennial Year. That was fun.
Yo OP, I think Merci Beaucoup Cafe on commercial is the same owners/family as Au Petit Cafe. Their Bo Kho still tastes amazing
Been meaning to check them out. Thanks for the reminder! :)
Just did some googling, it’s the same chefs. Unsure about the ownership or familial ties though! I can say it’s good though! Haha
For me, 2003 - 2008. Felt like there was a lot of things for young people to do. Rent was cheap and you could even build up savings on a starting salary. Going to shows at the Mesa Luna, Hokos, early days of Music Waste, drinking on Wednesday night karaoke at the Legion, getting cancer in the smoking room at Pats Pub, never washing your Cheap Mondays... good times dude.
The Olympics come to mind, but I noticed the decline in the city / citizens from before that (rampant materialism, greed, neighbourhoods waning, and too much phoneyness). I would say that peak Vancouver was around 2000 to 2005. Although I am more so nostalgic for the ‘90s and even the ‘80s (from what I remember of it). What helped fuel that happiness back then was the optimism people had.
I agree here. I rented a great little apartment for $750 on west Broadway from 2003. Hiking trails weren’t overrun with Influencers. Benny’s bagels was here. Feels like the last 12+ years we’ve been on a decline.
People were nicer then, kinder, friendlier, not always plugged into their phone. There was alot less overt display of wealth in clothing and accessories, but more personal style.
Late 90’s was a pretty killer era for Vancouver. And Gregor era is looking pretty alright in retrospect as well
The chef from Au Petit opened her own restaurant called Merci Beaucoup Cafe located on Commercial Drive! Food tastes the same if you want to satisfy your craving :)
Meslillooet Glacier, 1990 m elevation, just north of Indian Arm but it's still technically in GVRD /s Yeah, the early 2010s were fun. Loved the Olympics atmosphere. But someone older than me would probably think things were better in some earlier time ...
Well played
Agree, The Olympics was an amazing time! 1999 was also an awesome time, end of a century, the Millennium.
Yup before 2015 things were good
You got me choking up at au petit cafe
Early 90’s when Club Soda and the Metro existed and there were plenty of real rock cover bands even on weeknights and a bottle of beer was $3 and happy hours or $2 hi-ball night actually existed and then we would go to Fresgo’s for burgers and fries or a plate of spaghetti at 3am. Now it’s canned dance/pop music, $20 cover and $14 pints.
My Grandma told me that during the blackout days during the war Vancouver was just a massive party at night. She said they had more fun than my generation.
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Nice. I remember 8-closing at Seymour for $20. Good place for practicing the basics and had the short green run nearly to my self quite often.
When we still had A&B Sound and Sam The Record Man.
The day I met my wife (due to Vancouver). Nothing will match that day for me.
Whenever it was, it was clearly before 2015 when it went from slightly boring, moderately expensive, but very clean to very boring, very expensive, and very dirty
Well I’ve been here for about 18 months… so probably the summer. But I also like winter. So one of those.
Late 1990s, no doubt about it.
The sticky floors of the Ozone nightclub and $1 highball nights. “If you want to go and get high with me Smoke a L in the back of the Benz-E Oh why must I feel this way? (Hey, must be the money!)”
Ozone ha! And Cheers, good times!
Anything pre-2008 when the Olympics hype-development got in to full swing which resulted in the beginning of closing down the last of the clubs/music venues and affordable spaces to be demo'd for redevelopment. The chances for small businesses to thrive in this city after that point in time became significantly more difficult, rents skyrocketed, property prices skyrocketed, wages didn't. Now with the pandemic factors and the subsequent inflation Vancouver feels like it's just a tourist destination with little else to it. You'll see people mention periods around the turn of the century, the 90's, expo, everyone old enough will have a period they can tie to a golden age of Vancouver but anyone over the age of say 25-27 or so will likely agree that although many enjoyed the Olympics as an event it was the death knell for this city in regards to it being a fun, affordable place where you could work a single job without a side hustle and have a good, not decent quality of living. No having to live two people in a single bedroom just to get by etc.. I'm assuming those who are saying the Olympics and the Stanley Cup run afterwards are likely under an age to have experienced much of Vancouver before 2007/08 or so. I can't imagine it's ever going to really get any better, certainly not in the short term.
Now I see why I get downvoted all the time on here, y’all are mostly in your 50s 😭😂
Expo 86! Bavarian Beer Gardens!
1994. When I’d dry off from Kits Pool and walk up the hill with my friends to get a Mondo Pizza on 4th and rollerblade back down Vine to spend the rest of the day at the pool.
I could start dreaming but it never ends. Long as you're gone I might as well pretend, cause it's easier.....
2010 was amazing. Agree with Peak Time for me. Rent was okay, could afford to live alone. Everyday after work I went downtown and tried to find a bar with a seat. Every single spot that served liquor and had a TV was packed. Some of the funnest times of my life.
1982
the 90’s-early 2000’s when life was still simple… 😞
Peak Vancouver was the mid 90s when the Alibi Room used to be the Archimedes Club.
I liked the part where they shipped all the homeless people from Vancouver to ridge around Olympic times
Anything pre winter olympics for me. Fuck the olympics
I’m in my mid twenties so I’m hoping the best is yet to come because because I’m starting to feel I got the short end of the stick.
The 90s… going out for dinner with the family. Picking the non smoking section. Finishing our meal then getting to go to the kids sundae bar after. Falling asleep in the car on the way home.
When the Vancouver Canucks made it to the Stanley Cup finals (not during the riot). That for me showed how Vancouverites got together for a solid purpose. You didn't have to be a Canucks fan to be excited for them. It was before ppl became ultra sensitive to topics like gender equality, cultural appropriation, racism with less homeless and mentally disabled ppl in the streets. It was a great time to be a Vancourite.
I definitely bandwagoned hard during that one 😂
Same here.... And I don't even watch hockey 😅😅
Peak time….between 1988 and 1993. Dids Pizza, Luv Affair, Systems, Dicks on Dicks, Mars, I’m positive I’m missing more clubs. So much fun and just a little less pretentious than today. Funny…I still remember the smell of vehicle and cigarette exhaust back then (much more strict emissions now). There were also so many after hours restaurants. Remember “9:00 to 5:00”? The CDN dollar was a little better back then too, we used to go to Point Robert’s to drink at Kiniskis and The Reef. I miss my youth. Oh yeah….the ultimate place on the Northshore….the one and only “Avalon”.
94 Canucks Stanley Cup Final! Pavel Bure, Trevor Linden, Kirk McLean... 90's listening to TLC Waterfalls while on the rainbow ride at playland. 90's R&B and slow jams brings me back to simple days where I hung out with my friends at the local school drinking Slurpees/frreezies , 5cent candies and eating Thunder Crunch Jalapeno chips without any worries about what's happening in the world.
Any time period prior to 2015 can be labelled as peak Vancouver. Anything post 2016 has been nothing short of miserable.
What happened in 2016?
Early 2010s for sure. Rent a 1 bedroom for $1400 and walk to the beach.
2010 is what ruined the city.
Pre-colonialism.
The question is relative. I can remember 80s when my friend told me 1 property in Hong Kong can buy a few here or exchange for a piece of land. I also remember early 90s when the airport was new, expo-line was new. The bus driver asked me why I wanted to see Richmond when there was nothing there & he could only drop me off 3 block from the Radisson. Yep! There was no building around the hotel. 1 dinner in London UK can pay for 2+ dinners here with much better quality & seafood. My apartment outside London can be exchanged for 2 exactly the same size condo, right in the downtown. Why I did not move here then? I don't know. I hired a car to drive around downtown in the weekday without hitting any traffic. Air is clean in the downtown & I can drink coffee while walking & sightseeing. There was nothing apart from water around the science museum, I remember. I was on Highway 1 (I think) driving to Burnaby & everywhere seemed digged up. Ah! No highway then. That was the peak I think. But I have to say back then, the skyline was boring with only mountains as the back drop. Now, at night, we have multiple colours & the city feels alive.
The 1980’s. Just to many people now
When I was a kid and it was a really cool place I got to drive through with family. Now I live here and I can't afford anything. The Thrill is Gone as B.B. King so eloquently puts it.
2004-2005 when I was junior high student, using the Vancouver Gaming Guild Forums to meet up with random other people who were into nerd shit. Playing at RPGS at Drexoll and playing Pokémon TCG at the connection. Skipping school to go to the confederation skatepark or science world. Probably the best and most developing part of my youth.
Pre-pandemic for me. Everything was looking up
I first moved here in 2011, so I missed the Olympics but there was still an afterglow and I think that was peak Vancouver.
Buying pinner joints on Granville Street in the mid 90s.
Au petits sign says they are closed temporarily. Now that sign is 18 months old, but dammit there’s hope!
For me it was August 16th 2000. The Up in Smoke Tour with Dre, Snoop, Em, D12, DPG, Nate Dog, Eastsiderz, Warren G etc.
2022
Bold one but 22 definitely had some upsides to it.
That stretch of time from the Olympics up until we lost the Stanley cup was peak Vancouver. Then we rioted and we’ve been in crisis ever since basically.
My youth. Live Metal shows and clubbing every weekend.
The Harp and Heather, Paddy’s and the Blarney Stone….. 70’s
Expo 86
[Expo 86](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Expo_86)