June 2011
31 posts
Still sickened
I was in downtown Vancouver during the Stanley Cup riot. In fact I was standing next to The Hudson’s Bay building at approx. 8:20 (waiting for the sky train crowd to die down a bit) near the corner of Georgia and Granville when a girl who was innocently standing with her boyfriend next to me had a large alcohol bottle thrown at her from a several storey parking garage across the street. Her...
A letter of hope
Dear Rioters,
First off, I hope that you feel shame, guilt and humiliation for the devastation you caused and the reputation you have given our beautiful city. To every one of you. From those that came with the intention of starting the riot, to those who joined in. Whether you lit a car on fire, broke a store window, or simply looted for the ‘fun’ of it, or to those who stood by and...
A Canuck/Police fan
During game 7, I was on a flight to Hawaii and upon landing we heard rumors that riots were taking place in Vancouver but I assumed the Hawaiian news didn’t think it was relevant news for their audience. I only heard bits and pieces about the riot throughout my trip and didn’t know the extent of it until I got home.
The riots highlighted the immaturity of a portion of our...
The riots gave people another reason to hate...
Photo: International coverage continues the morning after.
After the Canucks lost the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals, our city became a place that can only be described as sickening.
Over 100 cars were vandalized and 17 were set on fire. Numerous businesses were trashed including London Drugs, which had almost $1 million dollars in damages and stolen goods. Fights broke out amongst the huge...
A message from someone who cares, to the people...
From the amount of coverage in the media on this horrendous situation, I’ve seen the worst of the general public to the best.
From the negatives, I don’t think these people deserve the right to apologize, let alone ask for forgiveness. The only thing forgiveness will teach is that they can get away with it (you don’t punch someone in the face and ask for forgiveness right after). These rioters...
Thank you police officers
I agree with the police officer who submitted the blog, that actions speak louder than words. These people, many young, need to come forward and do many, many, hours of community service to pay for what they have done. Whining about how sorry they are does not pay for the damages to peoples’ cars and property or help them after they were traumatized. The police and emergency personnel did...
Ask not what your city can do for you, ask what...
”Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country”
John F. Kennedy
Great so you say you weren’t quite thinking when you flipped a car, broke a window, beat up some stranger or stole somebody else’s property. Now you realize that the consequences of your actions went far beyond the immediate moment. You’re asking for forgiveness...
On the subject of the true "Heroes:" from the...
*** Bear with me, it’s a long one! ***
I was watching the game at ‘ground zero’ – right on the steps of the library on the corner of Hamilton and Georgia, just as I had countless times throughout the Canucks’ magical run to the Stanley Cup Final.
I was there, like many others, because I wanted to be amongst the crowd should we had won the game and won the cup. At the same time, I wanted...
Please Stop Apologizing: a police officer's letter...
“You’ll sleep soundly in your bed tonight because men and women like me will always be there to deal with your poor choices. You have no idea how fortunate you are, even after we arrest and charge you. Even though you disgust me, if you call for me in the middle of the night I’ll respond. I’ll protect your life and property because it’s right and it’s...
The fort we built to protect ourselves: it was...
Riot police send in the K-9 officers on Granville Street in an effort to contain the troublemakers. Photo by Maurice Li.
Sorry for any grammer/spelling mistakes…this was hard enough.
So at 2 pm, my friend and I took the Millennium Line to Granville Station to help out our friend who was doing security, just in case the Canucks lose the game. By the time the game starts, the...
I tried to help that night
Here is my story from the Vancouver riots. I did what I could to try to stop/slow down people from looting or vandalizing. I met many other people who were also actively opposing the rioters. I am most definitely impressed by the bravery of these individuals. I was downtown to enjoy the pregame atmosphere and to watch the game with friends at a local bar. The city was abuzz pregame, it was...
A Filmmaker's Choice
Hi everyone. I am a filmmaker here in Vancouver and I have a story about my night during the Vancouver riots.
My day started bright and early. I knew I wanted to make a film about this day as it doesn’t really get any better than game 7 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Well, overtime would have been the cherry on top, but I digress…
After the game ended, I was at home in Kitsilano, but something...
From the perspective of a Vancouverite who risked...
Proud Vancouverites carry a severely injured man to safety. He was viciously beaten by rioters for attempting to prevent them from looting the Hudson’s Bay Company. Photo by Jon Chiang. Also see video of the gruesome attack.
I was in downtown and it brought me to tears.
People were breaking my city, and breaking people.
My wife and I went for a walk to be amongst the masses without a...
Perspective of an Olympic volunteer
An Olympic volunteer is shown to be waiting at a bus stop in February 2010. He is just one of thousands of volunteers who have selflessly woken up at the crack of dawn to show the pride they had for their city, their province, and their country. This is their home. Photo by mr_sparkle
No, I was nowhere near the June 15th riot. I was at home, watching the media coverage.
Absolutely sickened,...
Man up and face the consequences: a police...
Dustin Anderson taunting and assaulting a fire fighter at the scene.
This message is specifically intended for Dustin Anderson, but I suppose it is also a general letter to other idiots like him.
I read in the news that you intent to turn yourself in for your stupidity, for taunting police officers on the line and for trying to assault a fire firefighter. I hope there are some people who are...
Civility a lost cause in our city
We have reached an epidemic in selfishness in the Lower Mainland.
I see it frequently on overcrowded buses, when older people get on and yet not one younger person will stand up to offer a seat.
I see it walking down the street when, as a single, pedestrian, people walking three and four abreast will not move into a single file, making me having to walk onto the street to move past them.
I...
Are we too harsh on the rioters?
I understand how frustrating that must have been for you. I made the fortunate decision to stay in my home that night and didn’t experience any of the effects of the riot first hand. That being said, your letter to Tim was too harsh. This was a young person who turned himself in - he admitted he was wrong and asked for forgiveness for himself and mercy for his family and friends who were...
I'm embarrassed to be a Canuck fan and a Canadian
Photo by: kardboard604
I am a fan of the Vancouver Canucks and I consider myself to be an extremely proud Canadian, but right now I’m embarrassed to say I’m any of these.
I watched the game that night at Venue Bar in downtown Vancouver with about 10 friends. It was an intense series, it was an intense game 7, and the team who wanted it the most took home the Cup. I am still proud...
A hero among the rotten pack
In this video, photographer Bert Easterbrook was beaten by a mob after stopping a rioter from trying to set fire to a truck in Downtown Vancouver during the Stanley Cup riot.
For anyone feeling post-riot despair over what British Columbians are capable of, I have an antidote. His name is Bert Easterbrook. He was beaten bloody for his bravery.
The 32-year-old photographer and care worker...
The Positivity of June 16th - From Someone Who...
I went to bed on June 15th feeling horrified and ashamed of the events that had befallen my city. I had been downtown when the riots broke out, and my friends and I chose to make a quick beeline for the SeaBus and watch the events of the riot unfurl from the safety of the evening news, rather than stay downtown and get in the way.
I woke the next morning still feeling terrible, so I grabbed a...
Downtown Vancouver is Home, Sweet, Home
Photo by MKandG
You may not accept my note because I do not necessarily fit the profile you are seeking, but I witnessed the riot from a very unique perspective: my home. What many people who chose to participate in the riot do not seem to fully comprehend is that Downtown Vancouver is not just a place to shop, dine, work and party…it is also a place where people live. It is, in fact, a...
From the perspective of a Live Site security...
Photo by emarone
I just want to write something about the riot. I was doing the security, we were the guys who were doing the gates: clearing the green carpet and doing searches. What happen that night is sad.
I have been working all 7 games at the FUNZONE, every night was a great night until that FINAL night. Let me explain about the gates, maybe you people won’t know what our...
Speakers and rioters should visit ALL Lower...
Hi, I am a freelance writer and travel photographer in Vancouver.
I have done a write up, giving my perspective on the riot, and mentioned two of the heroes who courageously faced a violent mob, a mob that eventually beat them like rabid animals.
In my write up, I have made a suggestion or plea, that speakers visit ALL high schools in the lower mainland to discuss what happened.
Besides...
Should we have stood up to the rioters?
The most interesting moment I witnessed during the riots was when a homeless man’s bag of bottles was knocked over by one of the rioters. About 15 people yelled at the rioter and then proceeded to help the homeless man pick up his bottles. These same people then turned and watched rioters’ burn millions and millions of dollars worth of cars that were right next to us and broke ...
My Escape from Downtown Vancouver
The West Georgia swamp, before the riot, on June15. Photo by Foxtongue
I wanted to submit what I witnessed that night to share a different perspective with everyone. Like many other people, my group of friends and I wanted to be part of the history that might unfold later that night. I had been over to Vancouver for a week beforehand and had been at the fan zone for many nights so I knew to get...
The questions that remain...
Photo by Matthew Grapengieser
It is time for the public to speak out, and to stand up. I feel the need to voice my concerns as this begins to play out in the media.
After witnessing the events of Wednesday night, literally on my doorstep, and after hearing some of the things being represented in various media reports by City Officials following the tragic events on Wednesday,...
Boots on the ground
Photo credit: PilgrimingVine
The events of Wednesday night sadden me. The intense dynamics at street level, the Canuck’s effort being overshadowed by the hooliganism, the very poor image the world temporarily has of our beautiful city – the entire night was inexcusable.
The uniformed men and women in the front lines were doing the best they could in a very bad situation. They showed...
"You stole so much that you can never truly make...
I’m glad you are doing the right thing now, and hope more will do the same, but I’m just curious, would you have done the right thing if that famous picture of YOU totally out of control was posted all over the world? Or is it that you are sorry you got caught? Or did you just post the letter for the Judge that will be sentencing you?
To me an apology includes acknowledgment of what...
Love This City
Photo credit: entheos_fog
I am not a healthcare professional, or a police officer. I do not give as selflessly to the community as any of them. I am, however, a law abiding Vancouverite, Canadian, citizen of the world and die-hard Vancouver Canucks fan.
I would appreciate the opportunity to give my thanks to all of those on the front line the other night. You were all faced with a job tougher...
A Front Line Officer's Perspective
Ed.’s Note: For privacy reasons all names have been removed
I was assigned as Acting Sergeant for Section 1 Squad 1. Members attended for briefing at 1500 hrs. And subsequently deployed at live site at Hamilton and Georgia. The squad was deployed as published in the ops plan with no changes to the roster.
The crowd was extremely large and densely packed. It was difficult to move through the...
A E.R. nurse's thoughts on an instigator's...
Ambulance cars line the streets outside of St. Paul’s Hospital’s emergency triage centre for those injured on the night of June 15. Photo credit: Andrés Goñi
Tim,
Just because you can string an apologetic sentence together does not mean you are sorry. Perhaps I should make you aware of the consequences of your action. To you, it’s just an overturned car that you set on fire....