What the f#ck is a “Vancity” and why do you think it’s cool?
I’m from Vancouver originally, live here now and have lived here most of my life. I love/hate this place. I love hip hop, amongst other forms/cultures of music.
But why do people use the term “Vancity” like it’s some kind of hip nickname for this town? When did this start? I remember in the 90s some hip or wannabe hip people used the name “Terminal City” and there was even a hip newspaper with that title. When did “Vancity” take over and why?
I offer the following facts/truisms:
1. Vancity is the name of the dominant credit union (bank) in town. This bank was founded in 1946. Banks are not cool. Even when they’re credit unions. Using the same name as a pre-existing bank as some kind of supposed hip name for the city is not exactly original.
2. Van-ci-ty has the exact same amount of syllables as Van-cou-ver. Again, not cool.
3. Run-DMC is one of the greatest and most influential musical groups of all time. Nowadays in Vancouver, their logo has been completely co-opted by the hipster-hop “Vancity” version. Most people sporting Vancity clothing would probably write off Run-DMC, since that would be the music their parents would have listened to, if Vancouver actually had a significant hip hop culture, which it doesn’t (no disrespect to groups like EQ who earnestly did contribute to hip hop in Vancouver).
4. Vancouver is not cool or edgy. Vancouver is one of the safest and most dorky places on the planet. Trying to make it seem cool with a weak nickname just makes it even more dorky. Don’t get me wrong. I’m a nerd. I think some things about Vancouver are cool. I would like my hometown to be a cool place overall. But I’m not gonna play pretend. That’ll get us nowhere fast.
