(Image: Hasbro)
Toronto real estate may be red hot, but in the fictitious marketplace of the classic board game Monopoly, Toronto is about as valuable as a four-bedroom house next to a GM factory in Detroit. The new Canadian edition of Monopoly (on sale June 28) was unveiled this morning, and Toronto’s place on the board is in the lowly light blues, the home of Vermont Avenue in the original version.
The coveted Boardwalk spot went to Chatham-Kent, a farm town you’ve probably never heard of in southwestern Ontario. We’ve got ourselves to thank for this—the positions were decided in an on-line vote by more than one million people. Park Place went to Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, Quebec, population 87,000. Apparently the voters weren’t from urban areas, since Vancouver and Ottawa were also banished to the light blues; Montreal only made it to orange; and Halifax didn’t even make it onto the board. There is, however, one Toronto asset on the board: Pearson Airport—one thing Canadians value in this city is where they can get out of it and fly home.
Hello, There are over 200 cities in Canada. How could they all have been on the board anyway…
July 22, 2010 at 6:02 pm | by Catherine CowyIf it was by population Toronto would of been the Boardwalk. Actually to be honest I would have loved Niagara Falls to be Blue. That brings a LOT of people around the world to it. Now all the people bashing Toronto, give it a rest it wasn’t our fault we wanted the G20 it was Harper. Niece could of had it 10x cheaper but he wanted to put Canada on the map. Apparently he didn’t know the 2010 Winter Olympics were going on and that we won more Gold medals than any other country in the world.
If it was me? It would have been Toronto and Montreal as the 2 blue spots and Chatham-Kent should be in the brown or light blue respectively. No offense and the Water Works should be Niagara Falls Hydro Electric Plant, though I like how Calgary is the green spot that I’m not complaining about.
July 27, 2010 at 1:19 am | by Jason IsenbergIf you want an accurate vote don’t do it on the Internet. take about 2-3 days for any computer specialist to setup a cheat system…
August 9, 2010 at 10:27 am | by feelcollinsYa, Chatham-Kent won top spot, and it deserves to because its small, farming communities like this that make Canada what it is.
August 11, 2010 at 5:17 pm | by CKI think they did a horrible job… Because its called CANADIAN MONOPOLY! Not half of canada…Plus I think the voting was quiet bias due to the fact it was people voting for their hometowns and plus could have voted many times… I really think they should have done just the provinces and other major places. And possibly could have alter some of the rules ann also just saying Free parking sucks…
August 14, 2010 at 8:21 pm | by GwenThere is a larger signifigance to Park Place and Boardwalk. Paincourt, a rural community in Chatham-Kent was formed by many French pioneers from Quebec and in fact my relatives come from St Jean Sur Richeleau which took Park Place so I win twice. Now lets see if I can conquer my opponents when I play!
WTG Park Place and Boardwalk!
August 29, 2010 at 5:13 pm | by chrisWho is complaining? This is a god damn MONOPOLY BOARD… WHO CARES?! Everyone needs to chug a nice big cup of shut the fuck up!
September 10, 2010 at 4:11 pm | by RadIf it is of paramount importance to you that your province/town be on the board, you should’ve voted. Let’s leave it at that.
Fucking way too opinionated, you all are.
September 10, 2010 at 4:12 pm | by Radi think that if it is a canadian edition it should have at least a town or city from every province and territorie not two or more from one province like quebec
October 31, 2010 at 11:13 am | by sonnyI had a sneaking suspicion that they would forget the prairies. Somehow they miss two entire provinces right in the middle of the country yet Chilliwack makes it on… wow
November 22, 2010 at 1:38 am | by DanI agree. Not all provinces on a Canadian board?? Come on!
pathetic… one game we won’t be buying for sure.
November 23, 2010 at 4:51 pm | by Denise BruceA marketing idea gone VERY wrong!!! Why? All of the Park Place type board winners used (employed) other communities to vote for them. That includes Chatham, Windsor, Sarnia and several other smaller communities that are barely cities. Next time, if there ever is one, have the courage to select cities based on their importance economically, culturally or simple by population. Your marketing manager needs to return to school… but not St Clair College!
December 4, 2010 at 8:58 pm | by Eric J.Woooooo, go sarnia!
March 25, 2012 at 2:15 am | by Kane