So Vancouver has gotten a bit of hate lately…
I’m not gonna go into details, you’ve all seen the news, read it online.
Now I don’t have my head in the sand when it comes to the socio and economic factors that make Vancouver hard to handle sometimes. Yes, the housing market is insane. Yes, the cost of living is high. But I genuinely think that there’s SO MUCH good here too. When people talk about how cold Vancouverites are and how hard it is to meet people here I really have to shake my head. I mean do they live in the same city as I live in?? I’ve met the most genuine, caring and amazing people in this city. When my apartment burned down last September, this city show me love and support in a way I’ve never experienced before. How dare them say that Vancouver people are cold? I had people that I’ve met only a couple of times give me money to buy shoes for my kid for crying out loud.

So today, I’m fighting back. I love you Vancouver, and I’m here to stay.

I love you and #VancouverIstay because this is where I found myself
#VancouverIstay because your city healed me when I needed healing
#vancouverIstay because it was in Lynn Canyon the first time I felt one with nature
#vancouverIstay because you showed me diversity is something to be cherished
#vancouverIstay because I’ve had the best conversations of my life sitting on a log on English Bay

I’m not the only one who feels this way. Speaking with Cassandra Anderton we wanted to give back, and most importantly, we wanted to spread a positive message about this city. So we bonded over our love for Vancouver and the Vancouver I Stay Movement was born.

Vancouver I Stay is a movement to celebrate why Vancouver’s inhabitants love Vancouver. We are here to stay and are rolling up their sleeves and vowing to improve the city and create closer communities.

Whether it’s smiling at a stranger, saying hi in the elevator, or loaning a cup of sugar, or far more heavy lifting, we’re up for it!

On Thursday March 31, 2016 the very social founding members of Vancouver I Stay, Good Life Vancouver’s Cassandra Anderton, Youtube sensation Josh Rimer and yours truly will be filming snippets on why we love the city and why we are choosing to stay, and we want you to join us!

Beginning at 9:30 a.m. at the Roger Neilson statue at Rogers Arena, myself and the team will travel the city filming stories on why we love the Vancouver, and we’re hoping you’ll chime in and let us record your own personal story of why you personally love Vancouver! Follow along with the hashtag #VancouverIStay to find out where we’ll be next.

Can’t make it out to meet with Vancouver I Stay? Upload your own videos or photos to social media and tag #VancouverIStay and let the world know why you’re sticking with Vancouver.

Follow the movement on social media under the hashtag #vancouveristay
And on the Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/VancouverIStay