Vancouver’s mayor fired back today after his city was labelled as “boring” by The Economist magaine.

Not just any kind of boring. The mind-numbing kind.

“It’s true that Vancouver lacks the stressful vibe of cities where guns, muggers and freeways threaten one’s daily existence,” Mayor Gregor Robertson told me in a statement.

“But we compensate for our lack of garbage and smog with deep culture, breathtaking nature and intense recreation.”

The mayor was responding to the magazine’s “Gulliver” business travel feature, written by correspondents, and its description of Vancouver, Vienna and Geneva as dull.

It was actually something of an endearing rant on adventure and romance lost, about how “nicer places” become “less interesting.”

The writer found this on a trip to New York, which is no longer the adventure-filled metropolis it was two decades ago because the streets now “feel safe” and the subway is functional.

It’s now “pleasant,” which may be progress but a tad disappointing to a tourist “raised on the romance” of the Big Apple.

“But, here’s the thing: Where is the fun in nice,” the writer asks.

Actually, his or her bottom line is that he or she wouldn’t prefer the 1980s iterations of New York and London, but rather the “idea” of them, complete with dirt and danger.

Nonetheless, their 2015 versions still aren’t as dull as Geneva or Vancouver.

The writer does give a nod to its “livability” reports, guides for companies with expatriate employees.

“The trouble was, measuring things such as crime levels, transport efficiency and housing stock, meant that the most anodyne cities inevitably rose to the top,” the Economist says.

“Vienna, Vancouver and Geneva always seemed to do well. Pleasant cities, yes, but mind-numbingly boring. What right-minded person would rank Vienna a better city than Rio, or Vancouver preferable to Paris?”

(For the record, I love Vancouver and think it’s exciting.)

"Adventure is in our DNA" Gregor Robertson

Here’s the rest of Mr. Robertson’s response:

“We are the world’s third most culturally-diverse city with the food, arts and festivals to show for it. We are 2 million entrepreneurial souls surrounded by ocean beaches, towering forests, and mountain wilderness.

“We didn’t destroy our nature – we have a thousand acre ancient forest in our downtown, right next to the largest working port on the west coast of North America.

“Despite being a very safe city, there’s plenty of grit here and we don’t hide our vulnerabilities. Some of our poorest and wealthiest neighbourhoods are side by side, but we grapple with our urban challenges head on and take care of each other.

“Adventure is in our DNA. People come here from all over the world because we crave and create a spirited life. But Vancouver is not for those who seek a rush from violent crime or need their culture spoon-fed.”

Who could ask for more in a mayor, by the way?

His website describes Vancouver’s Mr. Robertson as a soccer and hockey fan. Okay, the Canucks are boring but where else could you find a mayor who “can occasionally be seen around town playing his tuba or drums?”

And speaking of mayors, Toronto didn’t used to be boring.