BS: The Happiest Canadian city

Subject: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 02:29 PM

It appears the city I live in is the 'happiest' Canadian city. So if your feeling down right miserable come to Saint John, N.B. or at least the East Coast of Canada.

CBC survey

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: bobad
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 02:46 PM

The people I know who don't live in cities are happy that they don't, as am I.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Becca72
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 02:56 PM

I've visited St. John, NB. There used to be a fabulous little Italian restaurant downtown, but I cannot remember the name of it (Victor's, maybe?). It was near the hockey arena...the game and the food made me happy while I was there :-)

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:06 PM

Bobad ... with a population of 68k Saint John is actually a big town, or a small city... if ya have to, or want to live in a city you'll be happy.

Becca ... the restaraunt is called Vito's. It's an Italian restaraunt owned by a big happy Greek guy.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Becca72
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:10 PM

That's it! I had the best meal there. This was back when the Flames were still in town and most of the team showed up when we were 1/2 way through our meal.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:16 PM

Actually Vito was part owner of the Flames Becca. The other (major)owners of the team lived 'away' in Calgary. They were not happy so they sold the team. Ticked a lot of the local hockey fans off ... but now we have the Sea Dogs.

Vito's is a very good dining spot here in Saint John.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:46 PM

I've been there and didn't find it any jollier than, say, Banff or Springhill or Quebec or St. Jean Port Jolie or Lethbridge. Lots jollier than Ottawa, mind you, but that's to be expected.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:49 PM

You obviously didn't venture down to the Irish South End Rapaire :).

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:52 PM

I didn't want to spend any more time there than in London, Washington, Seoul, Tokyo, Dublin or Paris: i.e., as little as possible. Them places are full of (shudder!) politicians!

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: bobad
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 03:58 PM

St.Louis du Ha Ha!, Quebec, sounds like a pretty happy place.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 04:05 PM

I dunno, maybe if St. Louis du Ha Ha changed their town motto it might have made Number 1 on the list ... somehow "Solidaire dans le labeur" just doesn't cut it.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: bobad
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 04:13 PM

"Solidaire dans le labeur" - That sounds like the type of slogan popularized by the old communist countries, the cities of which one would not associate with happiness.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 04:20 PM

Vito's. Best in town as far as I am concerned. Great grub, good prices. Started out in an old house... made a big kitchen out of the old kitchen and living room and set up four tables in the porch. It was mostly take out. Home delivery started up. He bought two houses on the next corner and........

sIx.... Vito has a restaurant in Riverview, too. When they get city status, New Brunswick will have three cities in the top five.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 04:23 PM

HeHe ... what the hell gnu, the whole population (500k) of New Brunswick is less than many Canadian towns ... I think they should make New Brunswick one big Happy City !

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Becca72
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 04:32 PM

I liked Ottawa, too. Well, I liked the park with all the cats living in it... :-)

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Rapparee
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 06:40 PM

Ottumwa is nice, apart from being in Iowa.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: bobad
Date: 28 Dec 07 - 07:20 PM

Haven't you heard, it's been moved.....to Kansas.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: topical tom
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 11:10 AM

I think Montreal is very happy with its mixture of cultures, fine restaurants and fun places to visit. It has quite a bit of green space, too...and Les Canadiens!

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Mooh
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 11:32 AM

Interesting.

There are happy members of my family in the GTA (Toronto and Mississauga) and Ottawa, but small towns are even too big for me though I live in one (pop 7500) out of necessity. I'm a fish out of water in the city...nice places to visit but I couldn't live in one.

I like Ottawa, Charlottetown (or anywhere else in PEI), Halifax, even Toronto (heck, the 12th Fret is there!) but happy means small to me.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Beer
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 12:04 PM

Although rated 6th., I'd move to Saint John's anyday.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 01:05 PM

Well I would have to vote for T'ronto

Ain't no other city there with relatives of mine and that rather defines it for me.

I live in a town that should be a village, if it wasn't for the thriving shops. And that is how I like it.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Becca72
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 01:13 PM

And they have the Hockey Hall of Fame...which is the only reason I was actually IN Toronto...

QC is quite lovely, too, except that I speak NO French.

But for me Montreal has my heart...and my Habs. :-)

Does Vito's deliver? I'm only about 7 or 8 hours away...

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Emma B
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 01:16 PM

Well I fell head over heels in love with Montreal this year but......

it appears the 'happiest' place in England is ......








wait for it.......






Bournemouth!

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 10:51 PM

I guess nobody told CP although it doesn't say folks in Calgary are happy. I'd sooner Saint John anyway if they'd just take down a few of those damn Irving signs. :-}
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i33aOcZwOvBbwpftigsqzz9P9BWg

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 11:44 PM

A couple of good friends came over last nite. We spent a very happy time drinking coffee and many shots of Contreau, endulging in good plain happy conversation. We stayed clear of such controversial topics such as "is there a God", "the evilness of GWB", conspiracy theories or did John Lennon really know what he was talking about. We did spend much time trying to figure out how did Saint John rank the number 1 happiest City in Canada. At the end of the evening we came to the conclusion that the reason being is that we citizens of Saint John just don't know any better.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 06:31 AM

Obie... Take down the Irving signs? There would be little left! ;-)

sIx... Hey, it's the "Most Irish City in Canada". In NA, according to Elsie. That alone would account for a lot of the happy hours... er, ah, times. And, any city that is also known as "The Loyalist City" has GOT to have a sense of humour.

BTW, anyone visiting Saint John, NB, should get a taxi tour. I took a two hour taxi tour about twenty years ago. Told the driver I wanted to see "old architecture"... worth every penny.

Beer... I would move to St. John's, NF, anyday also... from May to October. Especially August. I never went to the lake. But, I did go to George Street with 30,000 others. Oh, BTW, Pizza Experts... best pizza I ever had and I have eaten pie from Goose Bay to TO to Boston.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: kendall
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 09:41 AM

Living in a city is an unnatural act.

Population of my home town, 5000.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 10:00 AM

Gnu .... you hit it right on the nail there ... Loyalists and Irish getting drunk together and putting on a happy face at that! Saint Patrick's Day is the most celebrated day in the year here. More so than Christmas. In all seriousness,(but still retaining a mood of happiness) the architecture is certainly something not to be ignored ... outside of Quebec City it has to have the most amazing pre 20th century architecture in all of Canada.

I'm with gnu and Beer regarding St. John's ... it is also my favourite Canadian city.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 10:10 AM

Obie ... BTW, if you follow all those Irving signs they will lead you to the Golden Globe (right in the centre of town) :)

There is no 'downtown' in Saint John, it's called 'uptown'. We also have a reversing falls. Maybe, just maybe that is why it's a Happy Town.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Beer
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 10:22 AM

I had forgotten about the Irish influence located in and around Saint John. That sure explains a lot especially if those doing the survey happened to be doing the pub scene. I there on business about 10 years ago and what a great time.
It is a beautiful and friendly small city with lovely buildings. To bad they leveled that great site on the hill(Hospital). It was also amazing to look at.
All the best folks in the N/Year.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 03:12 PM

I just ordered two twelves with the works, two fish and chip, one cooked lasagna, and one large spaghetti with meatballs. Go Skins!!!

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Beer
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 11:26 PM

O.K., So I don't get out much any more. Is Vito's a chain restaurant? Because I haven't experienced what you folks are talking about.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 05:17 AM

Nope. It's a family thing. If you ain't related...

Now, Vito's three daughters are kinda runnin things lately. They might Franchise, but I doubt it.

If I had any inclination to return to dating, I'd definitely be after one of them. They all hunt and guide at Vito's sporting lodge on the Cannan River. I use to have a link but I can't find it. A good lookin, truck drivin nimrodess... what more woman could a good old Kent County boy want? Not to mention all the pizza you could eat. I love pie.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 09:25 AM

Oh my Gawd ... good one gnu. LOL

I know which daughter you mean .... now if she is married to the guy that runs the Quispamsis Vito's you best stay away from his pickup truck because he is one mean looking dude.

You gotta come back through Saint John sometime Beer.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Beer
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 10:04 AM

I'll probably head out that way on my way to N.S. next summer.

Gnu. If it is a family thing how come when I Google "Vito's" I get one in Moncton but no mention of the one in St.John. There is also one in Boston. Different ownership I guess.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 12:52 PM

There are as many "Vito's" as you can shake a stick at, all over the world, as "vito" is a common Italian name. But, the Vito's Restaurants in New Brunswick are owned by the Georgoudis family, lock, stock and large calibre barrel.

Hehehe. I read a newspaper article a while back about them and the business. It mentioned George and Peter, Costa's ("Vito") two sons, but there was no mention of any women, save Costa'a wife Cathy. It's a Greek thing.

sIx... I don't know anything about their marital stati now. In the pic I saw of them Up Country, none had wedding rings on. Of course, I would take off any rings I had on if I had to clean a 650 pound bear. I found a link for Ugly Bear Lodge but it doesn't have many pics anymore.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: GUEST,Marla Comm
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 08:58 PM

That Montreal ended up with the second lowest score in the Canadian Institute for Advanced Research satisfaction survey comes as no surprise. Having lived in Montreal all my life, I watched it turn into a city of angry and abrasive malcontents. There isn't too much to be happy about when you're stuck living in a mismanaged city that is caught in the crossfire of Quebec's language conflict, run by a despotic government, dependent on a deadbeat workforce, festering in filth and on the verge of collapse. Life here revolves around broken water pipes, power failures, strikes, poor to nonexistent services, ice storms, snowstorms, torrential downpours, slippery roads and sidewalks and guessing what "until further notice" means when we ask when a service interruption will end. Unlike people living in cities like St. John's, we can't count on "the warmth and the friendliness of people" to help us weather these hardships because there's no such thing here. If anything, the rigors of living here bring out the worst in the rude, angry and uptight people in this dog-eat-dog city.

Montreal lacks the population stability that encourages people to stick together and form caring and supportive communities. The ongoing exodus of Anglophones coupled with the influx of immigrants from disadvantaged countries turned Montreal into a city of transients. Many of the remaining Anglophones head south for the winter and spend so much time with friends and relatives who left town it seems as if they have no roots here.

One can tell from the prevailing music taste that Montreal is an unhappy city. Although sad songs are popular everywhere this millennium, Montreal wallows in them. It's impossible to go anywhere without being held captive audience to the latest crooning crybabies. Many of our store and malls sound like funeral parlors. To add to the gloom, climate change keeps us socked in under an almost perpetual cloud cover.

Marla Comm, Montreal

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Beer
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 09:36 PM

So what the hell is keeping you in Montreal if your so negative about it. Move .

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: GUEST,Blind DRunk in Blind River
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 10:08 PM

Okay, so maybe Saint John N.B. is the happiest Canadian city. Maybe.

But Blind River still has the heaviest drinkers per capital. I can flippin' abtest to that.

As fer Montreal, I don't like it much, eh? They mostly talk French there fer some reason. You would think it was a flippin' foren country or somethin'. Don Cherry would agree with me on this 100 per cent.

- Shane

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Jim Lad
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 02:02 AM

I've played in St. John a number of times and have always enjoyed the city.
Could use a good sandblasting, I've always thought but it's friendly for sure. One of the Baldwins was filming some "Boston" movie the last time I was there. Happens a fair bit due to the architectural similarities.
Boasts a fine mall & crosswalks that will take you a couple of blocks without stepping outside and has a market that would rival the one in downtown Seattle.
Lots of antique shops and some good music shops.
All in all... not a bad choice at all.
Good for you, St. John NB.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: GUEST,Marla Comm
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 10:34 AM

Beer:
Believe me, if I had the money and means, I'd get out of that gulag ASAP. I'm still here for the same reason most other remaining Anglophones are sticking this place out. Not everyone has what it takes to relocate.
-Marla Comm

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 01 Jan 08 - 10:54 AM

Well, anywhere that poutine ain't râpée... I just shouldn't say... pas moi.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 05:17 PM

-28C in Saint John this morning. Oh happy days, eh, sIx?

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Greg B
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 06:05 PM

They're not happy. Those aren't smiles.

Their lips have drawn back from their teeth and frozen
there.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: number 6
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 07:40 PM

gnu ... your right it was effen cold in Happy Town this mornin. Now were heading for a meltdown.

biLL

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: GUEST,Obie
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 09:31 PM

"-28C in Saint John this morning."
I wonder what the heck it was in Blind River? If Shane wasn't blind drunk would he be frozen stiff? The mixture of alcohol and uranium keeps him thawed, but glowing in the dark. :-}

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Jan 08 - 10:57 PM

There is a lot of joy in Montreal. You just have to know where to look!   start with the fireworks competitions, mix in at the Jazz Festival, and don't forget the Just for Laughs festival....so what if a lot of anglophones have left? Maybe a lot of them were a dour lot anyway... Still there are probably a lot of ex-pats who miss the bagels, the Canadiens, the metro, etc, etc, etc..... It sure beats Toronto.

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 06:34 AM

...the Montréal smoked meat on rye. But, since I can still buy it here in Moncton, and watch Jus Pour Rire on The Comedy Network every day, over and over and over... until it's not funny anymore, I'll never miss it.

sIx... meltdown. Ya gotta love it eh? -28 to +15. Keep yer Bermuda shorts on under yer insulated, waterproof windpants!

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: Little Hawk
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 12:41 PM

Blind River is colder than Hell. Other than that, not a lot of difference. ;-)

Subject: RE: BS: The Happiest Canadian city
From: gnu
Date: 05 Jan 08 - 08:04 PM

And ANOTHER gold medal for the Canucks at the World Juniors doesn't hurt eh!! BRAVO lads. !!!