I'm currently in the West End of Vancouver staying with friends and there's ugly buildings everywhere - but the street scape/public realm, foliage and trees, walkability, smattering of very nice buildings all create an urban fabric wherein you don't ever really focus on single ugly buildings...
I just listened to a group of under 40 detached home owners complain about infillls, multi family, and high rise construction and the ills of density.
It's like a virus that comes with owning a detached home.
"Carol Ryder, his aunt, is on the board and is far more well known to most Calgarians - board chair at Alberta University of the Arts for one. And someone who has in the past claimed to love Calgary."
This city has absolutely no respect for it's past.