RUBBIE

A rubbie is a term used in Vancouver to describe an alcoholic, mentally ill, or drug addicted homeless person. They are generally found scattered around the West End and heavily concentrated in the Lower East side. The history of the word seems to stem from the word rubbish. The rubbies are often dirty, and wheel around shopping carts full of junk. Additionally, they often sleep in garbage cans, which might be the inspiration for the term. Example: From the adjacent building I could see up on the roof and there were a couple of dead rubbies up there.