This afternoon, I’m going to Vegas for three nights and four days with a group of my best girlfriends. This will – amazingly – be my
first time going to Vegas, and I’m not quite sure what to expect. If I were to form my opinions based on people’s thoughts and suggestions for my trip, then I would expect to encounter some of the following:
- Lions. And Tigers. In hotels, just hanging around for people to see.
- Indoor environments made to look a lot like the outdoors. You know, so you never have to go outside. And can gamble the night (and day, as you can’t tell the difference) away.
- Lots of smoke. Minimal recycling. Excessive excess.
- Celine Dion. Potentially at a pool party.
I have to say, these items are not necessarily what I would be looking for in a vacation. But hey, everyone has to do Vegas once, right? I have to admit, I’m going with the flow on this one, and am mostly excited to spend some time with a group of fabulous women whom I don’t get to see that often.
As I think about my upcoming trip, I’m compelled to think about the recent debate in Vancouver about the construction of a gigantic casino complex on beautiful False Creek. The citizens of Vancouver spoke, and their voices were heard. Late last month, city council decided to vote against the casino project, in opposition to the wishes and plans of the province.
The proposed Vancouver casino complex
Now, I know that a casino complex in Vancouver is nothing near the glut, unsustainablity, and artificiality of Vegas, but frankly Vegas doesn’t have that much else going for it. I mean, it’s in the middle of a dessert. Vancouver on the other hand has one of the most beautiful natural environments in the world, and a stated mandate by our city council to become one of the most sustainable cities in the world. Our city is just on the verge of deciding who we are, and it will be the culmination of many small decisions like this (as well as decisions related to such things as transportation, urban planning and sustainable development) that will dictate who we become and how we’re known to the rest of world. As much as I’m looking forward to my Vegas trip, I’m incredibly relieved that our city has chosen not to take a step in that direction.