Vancouver's West End named best neighbourhood in Canada

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      Guess which neighbourhood has won the title of being the best in Canada?

      Believe it or not, it's one of Vancouver's own.

      The Canadian Institute of Planners' jury, consisting of seven professional planners, named the West End as the top Great Neighbourhood in the fifth annual Great Places in Canada.

      With English Bay and array of beaches, the seawall, Stanley Park, and a combination of residential and commercial areas, the area provides easy access to a variety of different places, features, and views. In particular, it is noted for its walkability.

      Permanent rainbow crosswalks at Davie and Bute streets pay tribute to Davie Village's history as one of the main focal points for the city's LGBT community. It's also the location of the annual Pride parade that draws thousands to participate and watch.

      Other major West End events include the Celebration of Light and numerous charity runs or marathons that also draw massive numbers of participants and viewers from across the region.

      Many ESL students also congregate in the West End, adding to the multicultural mix. A large number of Korean, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Chinese restaurants are concentrated near the Denman and Robson intersection, while numerous Latin and Middle Eastern eateries also add to the culinary mix.

      While the jury chose Vancouver's West End, the Peoples' Choice award for Great Neighbourhood went to one on the other side of the country: Amherstburg, Ontario.

      Meanwhile, another B.C. winner was Kelowna's downtown Stuart Park, which the jury chose for the category of Great Public Space. (It was named second runnerup in the same category for the Peoples' Choice Awards.)

      The winners were announced on November 4. A full list and further details are available at the Great Places in Canada (Au Canada, c'est ma place!) website.

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