Letters from the Front Lines: Vancouver Riot

The riots gave people another reason to hate Vancouver

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 crowds and there literally was blood everywhere.

The rioters were acting as if there was no consequence to their actions. Throwing chairs at the police was funny. Jumping on top of a car was fun. Smashing windows and stealing merchandise was cool. The old saying, “would you jump off a bridge because everyone else was doing it?” would have no meaning that evening because the answer would have been “yes.”

Due to the thousands of photos taken and dispersed online, many of the rioters have been recognized and outed. Not surprisingly, most of the rioters were teenagers or young adults. Amongst them were people who the media described as “star citizens” who made a mistake.

Since the riot, these people came forward with public apologies for their actions, stating that they somehow caught the mob mentality, that they were full of adrenaline, and that they are truly sorry. While I do believe that they are sorry for what they did, I do not think that any of them, or anyone else involved in the riots, should be given any sympathy or lenience for their crime. Your actions are your responsibility and now you must face the consequences for what you did.

I do, however, think that people are taking it a step too far, by posting home addresses and telephone numbers. We don’t need any more people hurt or windows smashed, thank you.

That night, I was flying into Edmonton for a conference. Watching the news reports, and seeing the photos and videos online, I felt nothing but disgust and embarrassment.

These rioters are giving people another reason to hate us.

Before any of this happened, hockey fans in Edmonton were already against us. They would not be caught dead cheering for Vancouver, stating that we are all band-wagoners who only support the team when they are winning.

When I was watching the final period of the game at the Edmonton airport, people were cheering because Boston was winning. I was surprised that the province that touched our borders was not supportive of us. I couldn’t believe how much they hated our Vancouver team and I was actually angry they would rather see an American team win just out of spite.

A couple hours later, however, I was filled with embarrassment and was actually glad for once that I was in Edmonton.

Many individuals were equipped with weapons, face masks, and gasoline and came downtown with the intention to riot but the world does not see this nor care. From an outsider’s point of view, Vancouver is a city that would riot because of a lost hockey game, like a bunch of spoiled and over privileged brats.

The thousands of volunteers who came to help clean up the chaos were not even given a second glimpse by outsiders. They are still bewildered by the events from that evening, saying that, “Vancouver must recognize they have a dark side that may be darker than those in other cities.”

The reputation of all Vancouverites has been hurt greatly by the actions of the small percentage of people who acted so despicable. I am hurt and embarrassed.

— the perspective of an embarrassed Vancouverite