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agreed BK other than Pan Am technically is the largest sporting event in Canadian history - more participants are taking part in the Pan Am games than even the YVR winter Olympics
As to the party, you have your right to party and I have my right to complain, this city is not just for you either!
C'mon man - there are plenty of leafy green options for boring suburban life in the Toronto area... Some areas and especially the DT core and immediate surroundings should be the centrepiece of events in the city.. They bring in dynamic life to the city and ensure that the whole place isn't like Etobicoke, North York or Scarborough or will you be happy if Toronto moves in the direction of having a Houston like DT which essentially becomes abandoned after 6pm - thanks but no thanks but yes - they'll always be whiners/nimbys I just hope your type are overruled.
Anyway, I don't have a lot of sympathy for you at all - events like Pride have been going on for decades now well before you moved to Toronto.. You should have done more research into what you were getting yourself into - taxpayer or not! Its like people complaining about aircraft noise after moving close to Pearson International airport - like hello you knew you were moving close to the airport and yes there is going to be noise - noise pollution is part in parcel of living in a growing large city...
All I know is that we have been enjoying the restricted HOV lanes when heading downtown from Ajax this week. Got from westney to Richmond station for dinner on Tuesday night in no time.
Otherwise I have to admit no one we've spoken to has been all that excited about the games. Hopefully it is a success though, as long as you get some infastructure changes and end up breaking even or running a surplus it has to be a success. Also hopefully this blossoms into a focus on youth development in sports other than hockey in Canada or even just Toronto in general.
Talk about being in the right place at the right time. Was just running into a local grocery store to get something and just got there as the Pam am game torch relay was passing! Pretty cool. Never seen that before. Come on people of Toronto the party is here!!! Time to take part. If you are not from Toronto and reading this YOU need put this city on your to do list and don't listen to those self hating Torontoians! My guest from Paris that was here for 3 weeks in May keeps on e-mailing me raving about how he wants to come back and about how much he loved Toronto. I think we are too spoiled to appreciate how LUCKY we are!
The city has lots of options for all lifestyle preferences
Quote:
Originally Posted by fusion2
C'mon man - there are plenty of leafy green options for boring suburban life in the Toronto area... Some areas and especially the DT core and immediate surroundings should be the centrepiece of events in the city.. They bring in dynamic life to the city and ensure that the whole place isn't like Etobicoke, North York or Scarborough or will you be happy if Toronto moves in the direction of having a Houston like DT which essentially becomes abandoned after 6pm - thanks but no thanks but yes - they'll always be whiners/nimbys I just hope your type are overruled.
Anyway, I don't have a lot of sympathy for you at all - events like Pride have been going on for decades now well before you moved to Toronto.. You should have done more research into what you were getting yourself into - taxpayer or not! Its like people complaining about aircraft noise after moving close to Pearson International airport - like hello you knew you were moving close to the airport and yes there is going to be noise - noise pollution is part in parcel of living in a growing large city...
You can have both options tranquil and hyped up in this city. I live in a part of the city that looks like cottage country. Walk 10 minuets from home in each different direction you get different vibes. Hop on a bus or subway for $3 you can explore a whole new interesting area. Each day if you choose to you can find something different, new and exciting to do in this city. I am actually getting overwhelmed by all the stuff there is to chose from to do. There just is not enough time. This weekend alone there were 3 really cool festivals and not to mention a gazillion concerts and other events ( I only had time to go to 2 due to a scheduling error on my part ... Enjoyed Salsa on St Clair and Afrofest ... Both good... line ups to buy food were a pain in the butt so I did not exactly get to eat, but I guess I can just make my own empanadas ! I really hope the stores on St. Clair West made some money because that area has some cool places, but not enough traffic so I find things tend to close fairly fast. Re noise .... My take is bring it on. In most area it is only for a short time. Re traffic due to the pan am games. ... Suck it up and take public transit, walk or car pool it's only for a few weeks. Who knows the change in your routine could be exciting or inspirational!
I think more people should work staggered hours... I hate the 9 to 5 concept. There are 24 hours in the day.... That would probably lessen some of the traffic congestion.
I think more people should work staggered hours... I hate the 9 to 5 concept. There are 24 hours in the day.... That would probably lessen some of the traffic congestion.
Imo toRonto is pretty dead come 2 am or so. You would definitely hate Manhattan if u can't stand noise after 2 am. Lol.
I think that's fine with 97% of the city's population. I go to bed before midnight since ... forever. I fail to understand why people have to "have fun" after midnight often at the expense of annoying regular people and then end up sleeping past noon with puffy eyes and an hangover. That's makes no sense to me and definitely doesn't sound cool to me at all.
Regarding Pam Am, no I don't care about it, nor does most of the world. However, I do wish it a big success so that Toronto will be more prepared for a real international sports events that people actually care about.
agreed BK other than Pan Am technically is the largest sporting event in Canadian history - more participants are taking part in the Pan Am games than even the YVR winter Olympics
The actual numbers (based on a quick Google search):
Anyway, it is a very big event, but track and field, swimming, diving, boxing, gymnastics, cycling, rowing and many other sports do not have a huge following in Canada, or the US, so may not attract many local or cross-border spectators.
Personally, I have tickets for one day's events at York University as I am a track fan, and I look forward to watching many of the events on TV, especially the men's 100M because of the new Canadian sprinting sensation, Andre deGrasse. (Cam Levins and Mo Ahmed, Nicole Sifuentes, Brianne Thiessen-Eaton and Sheila Reid, and Dylan Armstrong in shot putt and Fleabag McCabe in swimming are other Canadians I want to watch.)
I would agree that the games presented an opportunity to redevelop parts of the waterfront and update transportation from downtown to the airport, and presumably to get funding assistance from other levels of government for these projects. Some other infrastructure projects are not as beneficial in my view; for example the new soccer/football stadium in Hamilton which has 22,000 seats but only 212 parking spots. I hope Tiger Cats fans come by bus to watch their team!
I do think there was an ego factor in play among the supporters of the games in that Vancouver, Calgary and Montreal had all hosted events of this nature and Toronto politicians and boosters felt left out.
We will have to see in a few years time whether there is a net benefit and if we invested wisely.
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The city has lots of options for all lifestyle preferences
due to a scheduling error on my part ... Enjoyed Salsa on St Clair and Afrofest ... Both good... line ups to buy food were a pain in the butt so I did not exactly get to eat, but I guess I can just make my own empanadas 
! I really hope the stores on St. Clair West made some money because that area has some cool places, but not enough traffic so I find things tend to close fairly fast. Re noise .... My take is bring it on. In most area it is only for a short time. Re traffic due to the pan am games. ... Suck it up and take public transit, walk or car pool it's only for a few weeks. Who knows the change in your routine could be exciting or inspirational!
