Is hating Vancouver a given in Kelowna?

[broadspectrum]

I haven't lived here in Kelowna for very long and was surprised to hear such frequent negative comments about Vancouver. Growing up in the suburbs in the Lower Mainland I saw Vancouver as the most desirable place to live. When I moved to Vancouver the general consensus was that it was the best place in world to live. It was also a fairly general belief that Toronto and US were the most undesirable places in the world. When I lived on the East Coast I found the same dislike of Toronto and the US. When it came to Vancouver few had any opinion at all having never been there or simply not close enough to it to be very familiar with the city. Now I live in a town which seems to have many opinions of Vancouver and few of them are favourable. Any thoughts of why that is? I love Kelowna. I also love Vancouver, the East Coast, Toronto and many places in the States. I'm not trying to get into a debate over why Vancouver is better or worse than Kelowna. I just want to get a sense of what it might be like growing up here and how such negative feelings begin. Or am I way off and just happened to meet the few people here who hate Vancouver?

[LoneWolf_53]

Some just hate large over populated urban centers.

As for me I can do without the over abundance of precipitation.

[JLives]

That has not been my experience. Most of the people of the people in my circle enjoy going to Vancouver for events, visiting family and shopping but would not enjoy living in an urban area. I enjoy going to Vancouver but I also enjoy coming home.

[SpazmoTheMagnificent]

I haven't lived here in Kelowna for very long and was surprised to hear such frequent negative comments about Vancouver. Growing up in the suburbs in the Lower Mainland I saw Vancouver as the most desirable place to live. When I moved to Vancouver the general consensus was that it was the best place in world to live. It was also a fairly general belief that Toronto and US were the most undesirable places in the world. When I lived on the East Coast I found the same dislike of Toronto and the US. When it came to Vancouver few had any opinion at all having never been there or simply not close enough to it to be very familiar with the city. Now I live in a town which seems to have many opinions of Vancouver and few of them are favourable. Any thoughts of why that is? I love Kelowna. I also love Vancouver, the East Coast, Toronto and many places in the States. I'm not trying to get into a debate over why Vancouver is better or worse than Kelowna. I just want to get a sense of what it might be like growing up here and how such negative feelings begin. Or am I way off and just happened to meet the few people here who hate Vancouver?

Just a guess, but I imagine it is just ignorance that perpetuates those views. I like Vancouver. I have lived in many places in Canada and the US and havent found a place that deserved those views.
Well, until we moved to Kelowna that is. Actually Kelowna itself is nice, but the attitude you are talking about above is pervasive in Kelowna...so alot of people make it poor for me.
Anyway, back on topic...Vancouver is a nice place...TO is a nice place...Halifax is a nice place (incredibly friendly folk). Ignore those people here that have those views, they are likely just trying to justify living in Kelowna...and go take advantage of Van and all it has to offer. Same here...enjoy all Kelowna has to offer.

[Bsuds]

I was born and raised in Van. I go back to visit family and friends and to shop.
I don't hate it, enjoy visiting, but would not want to live there again.
Beautiful "when" the sun shines!

[Smuckers]

I was raised in Kelowna and really appreciate its beauty. I also love Vancouver. It has the energy that I sometimes feel Kelowna lacks.

[Jo]

Vancouver is a beautiful city, a world-class city, a 'destination'. The attitude of some in Kelowna about Vancouver is an attitude that can be seen in most smaller towns that are relatively nearby to a big city, there's always a resentment, a hostility, to the main attraction. In the Okanagan, Kelowna is the pariah, in BC, Vancouver is the pariah, in Canada, Toronto is the pariah, and so it goes.

I grew up in Greater Vancouver, loved it, and in my twenties, decided that when time came to retire, I'd retire in the West End. What a perfect retirement spot, vibrant and alive, no need for a car, the best of everything within walking distance. It is highly unlikely that I will retire there, but a recent stay on Robson Street reminded me that it wasn't such a bad idea, for all that.

[banani]

I was born in New Westminster, and raised in Langley - my parents moved here when I was 8. I like Vancouver, my bf and I go there at least once a year for various reasons. It's nice there - besides all the rain, and traffic - but hey, that's what you get with a big city.
It's not all that bad though, there's a different atmosphere there, and I like that. Going there is like a mini-vacation to me - especially with all the different shopping they have when comparing it to here.
I'd never move back there though, as I'm not really a city person, but it's a nice place to visit. You can't beat the smell of the ocean, and riding your bike along the seawall <3

[Yellow Sprinkles]

I was born and raised in Kelowna, and was always sort of in awe of the big city of Vancouver when I was a kid. It was always exciting when we visited! Many of the friends I went to school with have moved to the lower mainland - so obviously they never had a Vancouver-hating problem. Some people I've come across are kind of obsessed with Vancouver actually, the ones who think we're all small town hicks here in Ktown... which is where some of the resentment might some in.

[BoB76]

I don't like the traffic there. I think there are lots of people who have moved here from Vancouver who obviously didn't like it there for various reasons. I personally would rather chop off my left baby maker than live there but that is just me.

[Catz]

I don't like the traffic there. I think there are lots of people who have moved here from Vancouver who obviously didn't like it there for various reasons. I personally would rather chop off my left baby maker than live there but that is just me.

Ohhhhhh...
I'm first in line to watch

[Jo]

I don't like the traffic there. I think there are lots of people who have moved here from Vancouver who obviously didn't like it there for various reasons. I personally would rather chop off my left baby maker than live there but that is just me.

I think most people who move to Kelowna are moving from anywhere east of Kelowna, not Vancouver as a general rule). Vancouverites tend to stay in Vancouver (again, just as a rule).

[LoneWolf_53]

I think most people who move to Kelowna are moving from anywhere east of Kelowna, not Vancouver as a general rule). Vancouverites tend to stay in Vancouver (again, just as a rule).

Kelowna gets people from all over the place but there are many that move here from Vancouver with most of them being recent retirees.

The time when Hong Kong was returned to China's control also saw a flood of lower mainlanders relocate here.

During the course of my work I often engage the client in idle conversation and where they originate from is a natural topic so based on what I've experienced there I'd say there are far more moving to Kelowna from Vancouver than you think.

There are quite a number of professionals still working who reside in Vancouver but own a home here that for the time being is used as a weekend/vacation destination but will ultimately become their permanent home in future.

[Snickerdoodle]

I'm actually very opposite, I grew up in the Fraser Valley until 86 and then we moved up here. Over the past 4 years I've been itching to move back to the lower mainland.
I hate what Kelowna is becoming. I find the lower mainland to be more rural area then we are. Not every piece of agriculture land down there has a development proposal sign on it. You can live out in Abbotsford, Langley, Cloverdale for the same prices as living here and in some instances cheaper housing.
If I want something from the big city, its an hour - hour and half drive into Vancouver, where I can taste all sorts of exotic meals, take in cultural events, be on the ocean front, people watch. When you live at the coast you are not lacking for anything other then better weather.

[broadspectrum]

I'm glad to hear my original impression of a general dislike is untrue. I can completely understand why someone would prefer to live in Kelowna. It's great to hear so many people having that preference but still enjoying Vancouver as a "destination". It was just such a shock to hear so many nasty comments on a city which I grew up thinking was the ultimate destination. Of course there is a very big difference between growing up in the suburbs and a resort town. I couldn't wait to get out of my suburb and into the "big city". Thanks for your thoughts on this.