Vancouver residents prefer TV to movies or live performances
VANCOUVER -- Throngs of film buffs are once again lining up on Granville Street and packing theatres to catch a flick at the Vancouver International Film Festival.
But that's not generally the norm in Metro Vancouver, where residents typically tend to flop in front of their cable or satellite TV rather than go to movies or live performances, according to the Vancouver Foundation's latest Vital Signs report.
The report, which surveyed 1,200 people on issues of livability this summer, found that Metro Vancouver residents spent more on entertainment overall in 2007 than their neighbours in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary, but they didn't go to as many movies or live performances as those in the other Canadian cities.
Instead, we tended to rent more cable and satellite TV — although we did see more sporting events and visit more museums than the Montrealers, according to the report.
Calgarians were found to be the biggest sports, performing arts and museum fans, while Montrealers were the least likely to spend money on television services.
But despite being couch potatoes, Metro Vancouver folks are out en masse this week for the annual film fest in Vancouver, which typically draws about 150,000 people every year.
Some regulars even take a two-week holiday at this time to see as many movies as possible, said Ellie O'Day, spokeswoman for the VIFF.
"It stuns me that even during the daytime matinees there could be lineups down the corner on Granville Street," O'Day said. "I'm always amazed. The evening screenings are always packed."
According to the Vital Signs report, only 41.8 per cent of residents of Metro Vancouver are exposed to sports and 40.7 per cent to the performing arts. Yet exposure to performing arts is increasing, the report stated.
It also noted that in 2008, residents of the city of Vancouver attended more classical concerts, theatre, operas, galleries and museums, on average, than people living in Toronto or Montreal.
...
http://www.vancouversun.com/travel/V...508/story.html