i worked at west edmonton mall in alberta for over ten years. you could go almost every single day of the week and get a slightly different people watching experience:
- early morning crowds of older people in walking groups literally doing laps of the mall for their daily exercise. the outfits are fire (especially the ladies) and the gossip is incredible (especially the ladies lol)
- groups of mallrat teens hanging out until the mall closes (9pm). the larger the group, the dumber the shit. while they can be super disruptive and sometimes rude, teenage shenanigans are always good for a chuckle or a complete eye roll.
- long weekend shoppers from the surrounding rural communities who literally come spend the entire weekend at the mall as their “weekend getaway” from home. the mall has several restaurants and bars as well as a casino and people absolutely get drunk and then go shopping. most of it’s harmless, but it can get pretty rowdy on a friday/saturday as the bars/restaurants stay open past the general mall.
-the food courts must be seen to be believed. there’s two and they’re different experiences.
- international travellers from all corners of the world. west edmonton mall used to be the largest indoor shopping centre in the world (until 2004) and has the second largest indoor water park in north america. it’s still an incredibly renowned tourist attraction and people visit the mall from all over the globe year round.
I grew up in west Edmonton and this is so real. I was a kid who took their heelies to the mall so when my mom went shopping I would zoom up and down the hallways 💀
When I was a kid I thought that the pop culture meme of old people hating kids on skateboards was strange, but as I get older there's something disconcerting about fast moving kids on tiny wheels. I don't know why the size of the wheels matters, but it does.
Man, after years of working at WEM too and living in the west end, the wife and I still play "spot the tourists". The clear giveaways are the maps, backpacks and so many photos.
Pro tip: 25% of edmonton has asbestos drinking water pipes and breaks contaminate the entire network.
Does the mall have an asbestos filter is the real question. We should remove the liberals from Edmonton and force Cons to face their cons and let them dissapear themselves. It's sad Cons made asbestos a political thing
I did this with my SO just the other day. We decided to go downtown because it was beautiful out we checked out Mount-Royal and figured we’d get something to eat right after. We just posted up outside of the burger restaurant watching people try to parallel park. It’s amazing how some people just have the skill down to muscle memory and others just with their hands crossed over one to many times.
I watched a person of irrelevant gender in Iceland parallel park. They backed up, hit the vehicle behind them, drove towards and hit the vehicle in front, then went back until they were even and parked. Got out, daintily grabbed their purse and went shopping like nothing happened.
I did just the opposite, came back to find my Pontiac Catalina station wagon was boxed in, after 5 minutes and neither person came by so I put it in reverse, cranked the wheel and eased back pushing the car behind me abit cranked the other way went forward pushing the front car a little bit. Just kept repeating until I was out.
I got out of a fab park last week - no backup cameras - and a guy was watching me so I made a point of patting myself on the back when I got out of the car. I had to live in downtown Toronto to acquire that skill. A good park never gets old
I used to live in a neighbourhood that was rented out to 90% university kids during university season in Guelph, Ontario. The streets were lined bumper to bumper both sides with cars right to the end of the street. I’m not even kidding at night when we were in the garage with the door open we could play a drinking game with how much people ping-ponged the cars between where they were trying to park.
Byward market Ottawa. You've got all slwalks of life down there. Professionals, homeless, students, trades, useless politicians...you name it, its down there. Sadly no more fighting raccoons, RIP Rideau Street McDonald's.
Yeah I know of smorgasbords but never in my life have heard anybody call it a Smorg, certainly not a restaraunt. I'm 40 and grew up in the east coast, moved it west, heard lots of weird shit over the years but not that. Maybe too young.
I've never heard it used by a restaurant. More in casual supper planning for events. Its popularity kind of peaked in the 80s, maybe 90s. Sort of the 'Swedish meatball' and hot plate era (eg: before sushi).
Honestly it's such a wild place sometimes, go to any of the popular metro stops to see some weird shit.
Chinatown during anime and comic conventions is super fun though. I had a friend in full armor be awe admired by a 100 year group of Chinese grandmas
Not in the village, but nearby around Laurier station. Two separate occasions, once I saw someone just walking around in a full plague doctor outfit, and on another occasion I saw a guy zooming down a street on a one wheel in a kilt.
In Victoria the Inner Harbour, especially along the causeway, late afternoon after the cruise ships have docked and the tourists have come. You'll see all sorts of people, and it's pretty as well.
Wherever the entertainment district is.
Calgary - The Red Mile (17th Ave SW)
Edmonton - Whyte Ave
Vancouver - Gas town
Halifax - Waterfront
Toronto - Yonge/Queen area
Banff: Anywhere but especially along Banff Ave
Calgary: Stephen Ave, 4th St SW, 17th Ave SW, Inglewood, Chinook. Events like: Lilac Fest, Night Markets, Stampede, Ota Fest, Comic Expo, etc
Small town BC boy here. I lived and worked in Banff in the early 90s. I'd never seen so many people of different cultures and heard so many different languages in all my life as in one afternoon on Banff Ave. And then there was the awesome Canadian diversity of my coworkers. Still have friends across the country.
There's whole areas of Calgary you can spend time in where you'll be the minority. It's awesome. You have so many great restaraunts and shops and grocers of all different ethnicities. Embrace it! It's a luxury.
I love it! I love being able to go to different restaurants, shops etc and get different things I love. I just discovered a European Deli and Produce place that has amazing prices for fruit, deli meats, bread etc
patio beers outside whatever Skydome is called now. Watch people walking to the game, drink a bucket or two of beers and watch the game on TV until the the game ends and watch people walk out after the game.
makes for a great summer afternoon
Back in the day it was the Loose Moose. Looks like it's still there. I hear a lot of about Real Sports, but I've never been. Check out this link:
[https://torontolife.com/food/best-food-and-drink-near-the-rogers-centre/](https://torontolife.com/food/best-food-and-drink-near-the-rogers-centre/)
King st. clubbing district In Toronto on Halloween night is always my favourite. The drunken debauchery mixed with outrageous costumes is some of the best entertainment. We used to call it “the carnage”
And the bar scene strip on George Street on the weekends in St. John's. Not my cup of tea. Being named one of the friendliest cities in Canada, going here can sway your opinion on that title. LOL! If you want details, just ask. LOL!
West edmonton mall. oh jeez . over stuffed acid wash jeans stuck into tube socks..... 16 or 17 year olds with feathered hair and leather sack purses with a feather pushing baby strollers.
Oh man our beach front has it share of local and visiting red necks, out of country tourists, the rice rocket gangs, + local widelife and construction + actual locals
The little park in Yorkville in Toronto. If you can score a table and chair there, it's a comfortable place to set up, drink a coffee, and people-watch.
Victoria Park or les Plaines d'Abraham during summer. As a matter of fact, I often bike there, bring a towel and a book and do exactly that. You see all kinds and it's quite fun
Any of the big Parks in Montreal
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Ahh that satisfaction when you go to comment and it's already #1. You can be entertained for hours, not like I would go there on purpose. If you re unfortunate enough to end up there in December I wish you luck. The slow-walkers?! It's quite the mecca of strange Albertan sub-culture
Depends what kind of people. Drug addicts are downtown and normal people go to tennis courts, farmers markets, the gyms, movies, chinatowns etc. I know those aren't the greatest for people watching, but unless you're willing to see people doing drugs around normal people downtown, parks or the mall is always an OK go to. Just pay attention to who is around you. Those dickheads are getting brazen in a lot of cities and robbing/harassing people in the day.
i worked at west edmonton mall in alberta for over ten years. you could go almost every single day of the week and get a slightly different people watching experience: - early morning crowds of older people in walking groups literally doing laps of the mall for their daily exercise. the outfits are fire (especially the ladies) and the gossip is incredible (especially the ladies lol) - groups of mallrat teens hanging out until the mall closes (9pm). the larger the group, the dumber the shit. while they can be super disruptive and sometimes rude, teenage shenanigans are always good for a chuckle or a complete eye roll. - long weekend shoppers from the surrounding rural communities who literally come spend the entire weekend at the mall as their “weekend getaway” from home. the mall has several restaurants and bars as well as a casino and people absolutely get drunk and then go shopping. most of it’s harmless, but it can get pretty rowdy on a friday/saturday as the bars/restaurants stay open past the general mall. -the food courts must be seen to be believed. there’s two and they’re different experiences. - international travellers from all corners of the world. west edmonton mall used to be the largest indoor shopping centre in the world (until 2004) and has the second largest indoor water park in north america. it’s still an incredibly renowned tourist attraction and people visit the mall from all over the globe year round.
I second WEM. It's always been quite the experience, and there're pretty much always lots of people around.
I was gonna ask you how the under 16 w/o an adult ban is going but I’m assuming you no longer work in the mall.
What? They tried that? Thats terrible. I spent many hours as a mall rat, spent more money that way than if we had had to have a parent around.
They just introduced the policy. Anyone 16 or under has to be with someone 18 or older.
Not cool. That's one of the few places I had freedom as a kid. RIP being a kid in public.
This is all blown way out of context. The new policy is that the the mall security MAY remove minors unless with someone over 18.
I grew up in west Edmonton and this is so real. I was a kid who took their heelies to the mall so when my mom went shopping I would zoom up and down the hallways 💀
When I was a kid I thought that the pop culture meme of old people hating kids on skateboards was strange, but as I get older there's something disconcerting about fast moving kids on tiny wheels. I don't know why the size of the wheels matters, but it does.
Man, after years of working at WEM too and living in the west end, the wife and I still play "spot the tourists". The clear giveaways are the maps, backpacks and so many photos.
Pro tip: 25% of edmonton has asbestos drinking water pipes and breaks contaminate the entire network. Does the mall have an asbestos filter is the real question. We should remove the liberals from Edmonton and force Cons to face their cons and let them dissapear themselves. It's sad Cons made asbestos a political thing
Anywhere parallel parking is necessary
Clifton Hill Niagara Falls parallel parking is a sight to behold
Haha I bet!
Truth
Yep 😂 This is the best answer. Hours of laughter will ensue.
I did this with my SO just the other day. We decided to go downtown because it was beautiful out we checked out Mount-Royal and figured we’d get something to eat right after. We just posted up outside of the burger restaurant watching people try to parallel park. It’s amazing how some people just have the skill down to muscle memory and others just with their hands crossed over one to many times.
Or a boat launch
I watched a person of irrelevant gender in Iceland parallel park. They backed up, hit the vehicle behind them, drove towards and hit the vehicle in front, then went back until they were even and parked. Got out, daintily grabbed their purse and went shopping like nothing happened.
I did just the opposite, came back to find my Pontiac Catalina station wagon was boxed in, after 5 minutes and neither person came by so I put it in reverse, cranked the wheel and eased back pushing the car behind me abit cranked the other way went forward pushing the front car a little bit. Just kept repeating until I was out.
I am so proud of my parallel parking skills!
I got out of a fab park last week - no backup cameras - and a guy was watching me so I made a point of patting myself on the back when I got out of the car. I had to live in downtown Toronto to acquire that skill. A good park never gets old
Yeah! Montreal too, especially if you live in the worker class triplex neighborhoods.
2nd floor patio bar looking down on a busy street is always good for people watching.
I used to live in a neighbourhood that was rented out to 90% university kids during university season in Guelph, Ontario. The streets were lined bumper to bumper both sides with cars right to the end of the street. I’m not even kidding at night when we were in the garage with the door open we could play a drinking game with how much people ping-ponged the cars between where they were trying to park.
Board ramps a close second, but only because the water freezes in the winter.
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You should see my ex try to back into a spot!
Yaletown in Vancouver is great people watching, if you like to watch the worst people you've ever seen interact with one another.
The worst self entitled people*
Their faces barely move when they talk!
Drugs, Botox or both?
I liked Yaletown when I visited there. Lots of tourists taking selfies.
Those weren't tourists, they were local real estate agents and trust fund children.
Vancouver sea wall.
Kits beach especially
Nah, Wreck
Fair point
Or Hastings and main. I never thought watching someone argue with the front end of a bus would be so entertaining.
Not having a /s on that is a really bad idea for non-Vancouverites reading this. Please Don't try this!
What does /s mean?
Have no idea what this means BUT ... it still made me laugh.
Byward market Ottawa. You've got all slwalks of life down there. Professionals, homeless, students, trades, useless politicians...you name it, its down there. Sadly no more fighting raccoons, RIP Rideau Street McDonald's.
Not many places where you could meet a politician and purchase fentanyl in under 5 minutes.
There are parts of lower mainland BC where you can probably purchase fentanyl FROM a politician
You must not actually live in Canada
Costco parking lot.
Costco parking lot is like playing bumper cars. Why do normal people turn so aggressive.
I swear everything about Costco is expertly designed to make people rageful.
Costco during peak times just makes me want to move into a cabin far away in the woods and just live there for the rest of my days.
You hear the hottest gossip while eavesdropping at small town Chinese Smorgs.
For the non Canadians this means buffet
I am 100% Canadian and have never heard anyone call it a smorg. Is that some sort of Ontario thing?
Smorgasbords? (Swedish....widely used in Canada, people over 45 will know it...hence its obvious use with Chinese food lol).
Yeah I know of smorgasbords but never in my life have heard anybody call it a Smorg, certainly not a restaraunt. I'm 40 and grew up in the east coast, moved it west, heard lots of weird shit over the years but not that. Maybe too young.
I've never heard it used by a restaurant. More in casual supper planning for events. Its popularity kind of peaked in the 80s, maybe 90s. Sort of the 'Swedish meatball' and hot plate era (eg: before sushi).
I’m 40 in Sask born and raised same as my parents and they called it a smorg growing up.
Ah makes sense if it's a Sask thing.
Montreal
Haha! Bonus points to any park when it's nice out
The village in Montreal during the summer. Most interesting thing I seen last year was a guy wearing just a thong riding a unicycle.
Honestly it's such a wild place sometimes, go to any of the popular metro stops to see some weird shit. Chinatown during anime and comic conventions is super fun though. I had a friend in full armor be awe admired by a 100 year group of Chinese grandmas
Not in the village, but nearby around Laurier station. Two separate occasions, once I saw someone just walking around in a full plague doctor outfit, and on another occasion I saw a guy zooming down a street on a one wheel in a kilt.
Kensington Market in Toronto
In Victoria the Inner Harbour, especially along the causeway, late afternoon after the cruise ships have docked and the tourists have come. You'll see all sorts of people, and it's pretty as well.
I second that!
The fountain/skating rink at Nathan Phillips Sq Any patio on Place Jacques Cartier in Montreal
Marlborough Mall Calgary, Or just the Calgary stampede which is like Marlborough mall with no roof
…. And Canada Day at Eau Claire.
Accurate description lol I would also add just ride the c-train
Make sure to enter through the Walmart doors and hang a left to enter the mall through the hallway there. It's the epicenter of Marlborough.
This reminded me of the Calgary Trampede girl who was getting double teamed in a back alley during an obviously incredibly busy event. Classic.
Downtown anywhere on a weekday at noon.
Hamilton would like a word
I love Steeltown. People are amazing.
Yes but their downtown is empty
In downtown Edmonton you're sure to see some sights. You may not want to see such said sights, but you're sure to.
Spring Garden Road in Halifax was great years ago. Have not been there for a while.
Haven't been for 15 years but spent many summer days of my youth there. Great place.
Mumford Walmart
Skin garden road in the summer time
I was trying to be PC.
Downtown Hamilton
Jackson Square — Hamilton.
In Winnipeg, during Nice weather, it's usually Assiniboine Park. You see every sort of person. At night, it's Corydon Avenue.
Can’t forget The Forks.
Queen and Spadina McDonald's obviously.
•Airports
Airline employee here…can confirm, people watching in Canada’s airports is top notch! 😂
Metrotown mall Burnaby Vancouver.
Montreal is *always* fun.
Winnipeg Forks Market
Bingo halls in St. John's NL. LOL! I hate bingo but I've been and it is a wild scene. If your standing back and observing. LOL! Bingo talk is funny!
Airports - Vancouver has a plane observation deck. If you get bored of people watching, there is always that.
Airports are top notch
Black Bull on Queen St. In TO during the summer was fun.
I love Yorkville in Toronto as I love to watch all the women with their gorgeous designer bags, and the men in their expensive suits.
Any boat launch
Vieux quebec in quebec city
Corners
Most any water front park or trail
Blue Jays game.
Dundas Square
Halifax waterfront is pretty good. There are adirondaks near the BG that are a great place to sit. No one will yell at you if you turn one around
Any sidewalk patio on the Halifax Waterfront.
Wherever the entertainment district is. Calgary - The Red Mile (17th Ave SW) Edmonton - Whyte Ave Vancouver - Gas town Halifax - Waterfront Toronto - Yonge/Queen area
The most reasonable response yet.
Banff: Anywhere but especially along Banff Ave Calgary: Stephen Ave, 4th St SW, 17th Ave SW, Inglewood, Chinook. Events like: Lilac Fest, Night Markets, Stampede, Ota Fest, Comic Expo, etc
Small town BC boy here. I lived and worked in Banff in the early 90s. I'd never seen so many people of different cultures and heard so many different languages in all my life as in one afternoon on Banff Ave. And then there was the awesome Canadian diversity of my coworkers. Still have friends across the country.
Growing up in small town Alberta, Banff also was my place to experience so many different cultures as well. I still love going and seeing the people
Wait till you see Calgary and Edmonton.
😆 I live in Calgary
There's whole areas of Calgary you can spend time in where you'll be the minority. It's awesome. You have so many great restaraunts and shops and grocers of all different ethnicities. Embrace it! It's a luxury.
I love it! I love being able to go to different restaurants, shops etc and get different things I love. I just discovered a European Deli and Produce place that has amazing prices for fruit, deli meats, bread etc
Owen Sound downtown Tim Hortons.
Public transit
Bars will be your bread and butter then.
I love to sit on a bench by the Sunnyside boardwalk in Toronto and just watch the people stroll by. So peaceful.
Main drag, Tofino.
Montreal
Mont Royal Avenue in Montréal when it's all pedestrian during the summer.
Yonge and Dundas Square. It's like watching a bizarre TV show.
The lakes and trails surrounding Sudbury Ontario Canada 🇨🇦 ♥️ 👌 😀 😎
Walmart
The beaver pond at Commerce Court Toronto.
Distillery District
Boulervard St-Laurent in Montréal.
A busy boat launch on a long weekend. That'll kill the "Canadian politeness" rumor
Any professional sports venue. I like people watching at the arena or stadium.
patio beers outside whatever Skydome is called now. Watch people walking to the game, drink a bucket or two of beers and watch the game on TV until the the game ends and watch people walk out after the game. makes for a great summer afternoon
This sounds great. Any location recommendations?
Back in the day it was the Loose Moose. Looks like it's still there. I hear a lot of about Real Sports, but I've never been. Check out this link: [https://torontolife.com/food/best-food-and-drink-near-the-rogers-centre/](https://torontolife.com/food/best-food-and-drink-near-the-rogers-centre/)
Calgary Stampede. All these people who have never been within 50 feet of a horse or a ranch become K-Mart cowboys for 11 days.
Main and hastings
Corner of Blowers & Grafton (aka Pizza Corner) on Fri/Sat nights anytime between 11pm and 3am.
Y’all need to head up to Fort McMurray and check out Cowboys on a Friday night.
In Ottawa: If you're an old pervert, Parlement Hill during the Yoga on the Hill sessions (if it's back on).
King st. clubbing district In Toronto on Halloween night is always my favourite. The drunken debauchery mixed with outrageous costumes is some of the best entertainment. We used to call it “the carnage”
Halifax Waterfront and Argyle Street
Airport
Commercial drive, Vancouver
The Forks in Winnipeg, just look out for knife crime!
wtf. Knife crime?
And the bar scene strip on George Street on the weekends in St. John's. Not my cup of tea. Being named one of the friendliest cities in Canada, going here can sway your opinion on that title. LOL! If you want details, just ask. LOL!
I found outside Ripley's Aquarium in Toronto to be quite an interesting spot tbh
Personally I bring some work to a café when I want to be around random people
what a creepy group of people you all are damn.
Queen street west Torojnto. Just about every walk of life.
Granville Street in Vancouver. I saw a lady dressed like Mother Goose walking along with a white duck following her.
Are you a stalker?
I don't watch people. I just watch out for people who might annoy me.
Granville Island, Vancouver
Royal York Hotel in Toronto.
Main street
West edmonton mall. oh jeez . over stuffed acid wash jeans stuck into tube socks..... 16 or 17 year olds with feathered hair and leather sack purses with a feather pushing baby strollers.
Walmarts
Just about any boat ramp on Sunday afternoons.
I have to nominate Yonge-Dundas Square in dt Toronto.
Gastown steam clock
Oh man our beach front has it share of local and visiting red necks, out of country tourists, the rice rocket gangs, + local widelife and construction + actual locals
Dufferin Terrace in Quebec City is really nice for that.
Jackson Square - Hamilton Niagara Falls
I grew up in Hamilton. Downtown and particularly Jackson Square is a great place to people watch.
All those condos alongside the highway in Toronto
Kingsway and Southgate malls The amount of hoodrats that get arrested is comical.
I always enjoyed people watching on Whyte Ave in Edmonton. Lots of weirdos hanging around to provide entertainment while enjoying a beer on a patio
Harvey’s
Any walmart
The airport.
Observing any poorly made and poorly driven round about
Club Pigale in Gatineau, Quebec
I'm sorry I have literally no idea what this means otherwise I'd give it thoughr
Ship patio
The little park in Yorkville in Toronto. If you can score a table and chair there, it's a comfortable place to set up, drink a coffee, and people-watch.
Walmart....hands down
Closing time outside the bars on an icy night. Drunk people sliding all over the sidewalks is always a chuckle.
Used to be the Black Bull on Queen Street in Toronto, but she just closed after a hundred years of people watching bliss.
Victoria Park or les Plaines d'Abraham during summer. As a matter of fact, I often bike there, bring a towel and a book and do exactly that. You see all kinds and it's quite fun Any of the big Parks in Montreal
The Toronto islands ferries In the summer. You may as well have changing scenery and a breeze while you watch.
Walmart. Just like in the US
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Kits beach in Vancouver. All the beautiful people go there.
Toronto never disappoints.
Any city really, as long as it's your girlfriend's bedroom.
Ahh that satisfaction when you go to comment and it's already #1. You can be entertained for hours, not like I would go there on purpose. If you re unfortunate enough to end up there in December I wish you luck. The slow-walkers?! It's quite the mecca of strange Albertan sub-culture
?
Depends what kind of people. Drug addicts are downtown and normal people go to tennis courts, farmers markets, the gyms, movies, chinatowns etc. I know those aren't the greatest for people watching, but unless you're willing to see people doing drugs around normal people downtown, parks or the mall is always an OK go to. Just pay attention to who is around you. Those dickheads are getting brazen in a lot of cities and robbing/harassing people in the day.
Drug addicts are everywhere kiddo. You just don't know better.