Fall Colors Canadian Style - Life on the streets of Vancouver 1986 · Sunday November 9, 2008 by colin newell
My wife and I are in our forties and although we do not have any children, I often get asked…
“Grandpa, what was life like in the eighties?”
This is where a parent realizes that their child has wandered from the McDonald’s play area only to be interrupting my moment of rapture with the brand new McDonald’s All-Beef Angus burger – available for a limited time only.
And they say: “I have no idea why little Joey asked you such a thing…”
Fair question though. So let me answer.
I had just finished a 4-year coop term and apprenticeship with the Federal Government of Canada in the sagging months of 1985. (And) With a fresh Expo 86 Season pass in my hands and the prospect of unlimited unemployment, I planned to do the bulk of my career development at this once-in-a-lifetime World technology Expo.
But let’s back up half a Back to the Future moment shall we?
In October 1985 I was finishing up the final stages of my education at B.C.I.T – I was on salary with the Federal Government of Canada on full expenses. Many of my classmates were on unemployment benefits while they were away from their employer so I was not too vocal about my situation.
During the day I studied hard and at night I frequented some of the many popular night clubs in Burnaby and downtown; Systems, Richards on Richards, Love Affair and Coconuts out in Burnaby on Kingsway. I lived near the current location of Metrotown (it was under construction at the time) and I would walk to many of the hot spots – often many miles along Kingsway towards New West, on week nights or weekends.
The difference was: The likelihood of being hassled, beaten or shot at was about as likely as winning a jackpot lottery or having a Steinway grand piano fall on my head from a Russian Soyuz space station… or both… on the same night… while wearing a thin leather tie, Ocean Pacific shirt, Emanuel un-constructed white sport coat, lime green cargo pants and deck shoes without socks.
In fact, walking down Kingsway in Burnaby in 1985, I was more likely to encounter an elderly black labrador dog gnawing on a bone by the side of the road than see a gangster or a drug deal.
It was that safe. So what happened in 20 years? Permissive laws? Higher stakes in a profitable drug market? Not enough prisons? Prisons that are too comfortable? A court system that is more revolving door than rehabilitative? You tell me. Vancouver is very quickly becoming a War zone – and as of yet, there have not been too many civilian casualties.
In my next chapter on the life and times of Vancouver in the 1980’s, I will drone on and on about my Ray Ban Wayfarers and my Season Pass to Expo 86…
And I wear my sunglasses at night So I can, so I can Keep track of the visions in my eyes
Winter follies count down to Hawaii boast #1
Kingsway safe in the eighties? You were obviously walking on the wrong side of the road!
— Jesse Nov 12, 10:21 am #
Great post, I found yours when doing some searching about life along the “Kingsway Corridor” in South Burnaby. I too, went to all those places, lived nearby and felt safe. It was a great time of life to not be fearful of being parked near someone or be next to someone who may be gang-related and you wind up an innocent victim. Simple times that I’m fortunate to have had. Thanks for sharing these. Rayban Wayfarers and Aviators, never out of style.
— MoneyPenny123 Jul 20, 02:39 am #
Thank you Miss Moneypenny – Yea, despite what we might have thought at the time, the Kingsway corridor was indeed a pretty peaceful place in the mid-Eighties. Walking weeknights after school and dinner, looking for some pretty tame action at one of the clubs on the corridor, I never worried about anything… that is because there was nothing to worry about.
It is a bit different now.
— Colin Jul 20, 02:23 pm #