Bob Rennie
Ross Milne
Nicole Phillips
Calen Knauf
Vancouver’s Most Awesome #1:
Douglas Coupland!
Thinking about someone who oozes Vancouver is sometimes hard. But then I got thinking, and realized that there was probably no one better to start off these Vancouver’s Most Awesome interviews than Vancouver’s own writer, artist, chronicler and proud Vancouverite, Douglas Coupland…
What’s your first memory of Vancouver?
I can’t be sure chronologically BUT I think it was in summer of 1966 when I was 4 1/2 and my brothers were calling me stupid for not being able to read yet, and were driving by the Alberta Wheat Pool (it’s still there, but it’s called something else a few times over by now) at the south end of the Ironworkers’ and I looked at the words, ALBERTA WHEAT POOL and it all came together and I’ve been reading pretty much at the same speed ever since. BTW, that’s something I’ve noticed, that everyone establishes their reading ‘cruising speed’ early on in life and they never change it.
Favorite thing to do as a kid in Vancouver?
So many things. I grew up in West Van very very close to the pathetically maintained fence that separated the Capilano watershed from the rest of the world. But that was the 1970s and the mountain slope, clearcut in 1905, still hadn’t matured enough to provide an ecosystem appropriate for megafauna like bears and cougars. So I’d spend my summers hiking and berry picking without fear of being mauled. But now? F**k, there were maybe ten different bears in the yard this year — I’m in Caulfeild on a creek and it’s their highway system. And for whatever reason, they all take a dump outside the front door by the mailbox, and the postwoman and the FedEx man always stand there and analyze it — depressing stuff like plastic bags and Swanson frozen dinner packaging. It makes me disgusted to be human.
Other favorite things? We’d schussh (sp?) down the sulfur pits. They had no security then and we’d go up and down for hours, like the world’s biggest ikea ball pit. I’m waiting for the lung cancer X-ray to arrive at any moment.
Also: taking the bus into Chintown and buying Haw flakes ( 6 cents a pack) and Screechers which were punded and turned into, of course, dynamite.
Your favorite shop?
I don’t have one right now. BUT in general I’m in love with Main Street. You know what I mean.
Your favorite Vancouverite?
I don’t know if I think like that. I can’t think of anyone.
What’s your absolute favorite thing about Vancouver right now?
It’s what I always say, and sorry to be a creature of repetition, but it’s that we STILL haven’t become what we’re going to be. Pretty much every other city on North America is futuref**ked and have no choice to be anything but a slight variation on what they already are. But Vancouver? In four years we could be a whole new city. It’s why I like it.
Awesome!
January 29th, 2009 at 5:02 pm
who is this guy ? Never heard of him.
January 29th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
Holy crap, the ONE person I thought of who would make an amazing addition to this interview series and you somehow get him for the first one! This is incredibly awesome, I was so stoked to read what this one-man-institution-of-Vancouverisms has to say!!!
January 29th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
Coupland eh? How did you score him? Amazing. Good job S R
January 29th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
mmm haw flakes! so rad.
david suzuki next, please.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
good score scott.
amazing really. i am a fan.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:29 pm
So… now what to follow that up? “futurefucked”…. new favorite word.
January 29th, 2009 at 6:59 pm
I used to ride around chinatown on my dads shoulders while he rationed haw flakes to me from below. always a bummer when the last flake was glued to the paper.you had to eat it, just suck on it till the glue melts and spit out the paper!!
January 29th, 2009 at 8:16 pm
again , I ask – who is this guy ?
January 29th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
pick up life after god, girlfriend in a coma or j pod to get a feel for the dude
January 29th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Adam, are you kidding? http://www.coupland.com/
January 29th, 2009 at 8:23 pm
google him man, he’s famous
January 29th, 2009 at 9:20 pm
extra good reads if you know where some of the places he’s writing about are. i.e. ‘Girl in a Coma’ and spots in North Vancouver.
January 30th, 2009 at 4:59 am
sorry.. *Girlfriend
January 30th, 2009 at 6:03 am
Nice work SR! Perfect interview for the number one spot!
January 30th, 2009 at 8:19 am
cool….. yeah ,I’ve heard of jpod ….. I’ll check him out. if you want to hear a vancouver 60′s singer/guitarist named Tom Northcott , youtube ” just don’t ” …. such a sick track. I love it when someone introduces me to something cool that somehow passed me by…
February 1st, 2009 at 12:15 am
Just wanted to recommend another Coupland book – a nonfiction one that can be passed on to others to help convey this city’s awesomeness – “City of Glass”. Definitely check it out.
February 1st, 2009 at 10:00 pm
are you serious!?!?! he is by far my favourite authour! this is crazy! by far the perfect person for a great vancouverite interview.
-tried stalking his house for hood wars, kinda failed.
-west van represent (he did go to sentinal though)
February 1st, 2009 at 10:05 pm
aahhh this is too ridiculous. jesus. its like him and viktor frankl legit
May 13th, 2009 at 12:13 am
lol. slide ruler. play them out keyboard cat.
August 8th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
To doug coupland
one of the most creative writers of our time. a gem…
and a van man
righton ;)
August 20th, 2009 at 8:59 am
re: “Other favorite things? We’d schussh (sp?) down the sulfur pits.”
The “sp?” is three words late.
January 27th, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Hi,
Would you be able to tell me the source of the first photo in the article. I would like to use it in an art work and was wondering from who to seek permission.
Thanks!
June 11th, 2010 at 2:10 pm
Dougie Copeland FTW! He really is my most favorite author of all time.