Toronto Appreciation Day - Vancouver! Part 2

Well, it appears that some people have decided to express their love for Toronto in unconventional ways.
Like by punching me in the face. This guy actually did punch me in the face. For real. I'm not kidding.
Photo courtesy of Jack Simpson

Don't worry. Vancouver, I still love you! Even if you are a bit of a provincial backwater. It's the Toronto way.

Toronto Appreciation Day - Vancouver!

Hey guys!

Toronto Appreciation Day in Vancouver was a great success! We even had people protesting with us, although they were saying something about immigration rights. But I'm sure I heard the words "Toronto rules" somewhere in their chanting.

We parked ourselves in front of the Vancouver Museum of Art on Robson street. People loved our singalongs, they hugged us and danced with us and had an all around good time. See, Vancouver - we're not such bad people!!

One of our new friends took some pictures for us. Jack Simpson, thanks for these wonderful images.

I'm in Vancouver!

So I just arrived in Vancouver, and already I'm feeling the Toronto Love! I recognized one of my best friends from the TV-show X-files, Dean Haglund, and as I was telling him about how great Toronto is, he leapt up and started, er, hugging my throat... with his hands. He was really excited about the idea.

Coming up soon, a full out Toronto Appreciation Day - IN VANCOUVER!

Toronto-Hating - the common theories

1. TORONTONIANS

One of the main complaints of people who visit or move to Toronto is that people are unfriendly and emotionally cold. Is it a Protestant thing? A big city thing? It’s also a common perception that people are obsessed with work and money in Toronto -- so much so that everything else takes second place, including people’s personalities.


2. JEALOUSY

Many people outside Toronto believe Toronto, the financial capital of Canada, has all the money. This kind of Toronto-hating is very convenient when you’re broke. It is possible that Toronto is simply the richest and the best and people are jealous.


3. “THEY THINK THEY’RE NEW YORK”

Many Canadians hate Toronto because apparently many Torontonians believe they are New York.


4. THE MAPLE LEAFS

Does Canada hate Toronto because of its perpetually losing ultra-rich hockey team? Is “GO LEAFS GO!” like sandpaper on the rest of Canada’s ears? Is CBC coverage too Toronto-centric?


5. TORONTO IS THE ANTI-THESIS OF CANADA

If Canada is roaring rivers and towering timbers, then Toronto is a big fat polluted city.


6. TORONTO IS BORING AND PURITANICAL

City bureaucrats refused to allow Torontonians Natalie Glebova be “Miss Universe” on city property. Similar to when the Barenaked Ladies weren’t allowed to perform on city property because of their rude band name. And many say that “Toronto the Good “ is so good that its boring.


7. FROM SEA TO SHINING SEA: TORONTO HATING UNIFIES CANADA

It is perhaps a symbolic glue that has evolved to promote national unity. What do the Maritimer fisherman, the artsy Montrealer, the Calgarian Oil cowboy and the Vancouver tree-hugger all have in common? Toronto-hating.



CHALLENGED BY THE FACTS

What’s interesting about Toronto-hating is that today, it is challenged by the facts. Toronto is Canada’s most diverse city, with some of the country’s wildest nightlife and its share of rich and poor. Toronto drives much of the Canadian economy, and few residents are under the illusion they are living in the New York of the North. Yet Toronto-hating lives on.

Heading across Canada

So here's the deal.

It seems that everyone else in Canada has a chip on their shoulder. The rest of Canada looks to us like the annoying older sibling who gets all the attention. They make fun of us, call us names, and try to diminish the sheer awesomeness of my fair city. Torontonians are supposed to be ashamed that we are the "Centre of the universe," that we are the best city in the world, that we are an economic and multicultural marvel.

I'm going on a tour. A cross-Canada tour. Called the Toronto Appreciation tour. We will be hosting Toronto Appreciation days in cities across Canada to give fellow Canadians a chance to openly admit their love for Toronto. I've got my toothbrush packed and my shoes tied tight.

Look for me, Canada, in a city near you.

This will only make sense to about 8 million people

Today I woke up to the smell of sweet, sweet smog. I then hopped on the red rocket and went to Fran's for breakfast. Then I walked over to kensington market, grabbed some fruit, and then went over to the ROM, because I love those free fridays. I took a lovely stroll down to the Bloor Cinema to catch a flick, and then took the TTC to the 501 over to the ACC and then the Rogers Centre. Up the CN Tower for a lovely overpriced dinner with my lady friend, then over to the Canon for a show. Finally, I hopped on the 505 and headed home.

Who's better than Toronto? NOOOOOOOOBODYYYYY!!