As the Olympic Games near, international media are starting to pay attention to B.C.'s biggest city and so far it's not flattering.
BBC Radio recently aired a report titled "Drug Trouble in Paradise" that suggested Vancouver is suffering an infestation of drugs and violence.
"There has been unprecedented levels of gang warfare that has left scores of people dead," the report states.
Not exactly the pre-Olympic PR that Vancouver's mayor was hoping for.
"Of course people will look for anything and we are a big city, we have problems," Mayor Gregor Robertson said. "We are the safest city in North America and have done a lot to get on this gang problem."
That includes the recent arrests of some high profile gangsters. So many, in fact, that Vancouver police offered a tongue-in-cheek apology to jail guards.
Last week, the police chief reported a six percent drop in the overall crime rate a year before.
"You just have to keep talking about what you are all about, and this is one part of us, but it is in fact a small part of the story of Vancouver," said Paul Vallee Tourism Vancouver's executive vice president.
Joe Chappell, a tourist visiting Vancouver from London, said he hasn't noticed any problems.
"It's a lovely city," he said.
With a report from CTV British Columbia's Lisa Rossington
