Sat on the crumbling coastline of the pacific northwest, Vancouver appears as shiny and optimistic as a freshly caught fish, and in many ways it is. The massive north shore mountain range challenges the cityscape, knowing that – for as high as we build our skyscrapers – we will never take the crown; the moody Pacific pulls in fog and rain through the long winter months, but acts as a refreshing antidote against the heat of summer. Vancouver resides within the Pacific Temperate Rainforest Ecoregion, which is the largest temperate rainforest in the world; so it rains here – a lot. However, with the rain comes the unbeatable air quality, the effortlessly clean streets and buildings, and the absolute explosion of plant life which paints the city green all over. Moss can be seen casually growing over drainpipes, streetlights, and windowpains, while other plants are busy breaking up the concrete sidewalks and roads. Many other creatures call this place their home, including black bears, bald eagles, seals, whales, and of course the much-feared Canadian Goose. Biking, hiking, and a healthy hobbyist culture; you would think it would be a breeze finding kindred spirits amongst the loose and cool West Coast.
Here lies the poetic irony of Vancouver living:
Due (in part) to its enviable location, its wealthy ports, and its foreign investors, Vancouver has the highest cost of living in the country. There is a severe division of wealth between classes, with a steadily increasing homelessness and drug crisis brewing beneath it. Many lower income people have migrated inland in order to survive; those who stay do so by working against increasing inflation rates, and keeping on that “Vancouver grind” (which mostly means working two jobs – maybe while also taking some courses at UBC – but hey I don’t know you). It’s a fast paced city, and it seems that the longer one lives here the more difficult it becomes to enjoy the wealth of beauty all around. The locals have been described as characteristically cold and unfriendly; we don’t really know our neighbors, and we’re not really keen on talking with strangers.
This blog hopes to work – on some level – as a bridge; to remind us that while we’re all here for different reasons, we are also sharing this space together as one people.