This post was published on the night of the riot downtown. Please scroll down to view updates and details that have been published throughout the days that followed.
After the Vancouver Canucks lost their battle for the Stanley Cup to the Boston Bruins over 100,000 people downtown began their journey home. Unfortunately, many of those thousands stuck around to wreak havoc, engage in violent activity, start fires, loot stores, and harm others. Police read the riot act about two hours in and said whoever stayed downtown could get arrested however if you left, you could go home in peace. Unfortunately a mob of criminals (let’s not call them Canucks fans) has been making its way down Georgia Street. They smashed windows at The Bay, looted, and moved on to London Drugs at Granville, Chapters on Robson, and are now moving West.
Throughout all of this despicable activity, cameras have been rolling. We’ve seen looters in plain sight on CBC News, CTV News, and Global. We’ve seen the faces of the men who lit the car fire on Hamilton. We have witnessed unruly men and women throwing newspaper boxes and walking out of stores with goods in-hand. All those of us at home can do is watch, and hopefully get the word out about transportation and alerts – for everyone’s safety.
If you would like to help out in any way – because we all care about our city – here are a few ways:
Upload photos of anyone committing criminal act to either this Tumblr account, this Facebook group, this Facebook page, on this website, or this page on Facebook.
Tag, caption, and make notes of all photos. If you recognized anyone in the images, please identify them to help out the authorities.
There is a cleanup planned for the morning downtown, this Facebook event is calling on the public to help
Update VPD are asking that you hold onto your footage until they are at the point of gathering evidence.
Update VPD are asking the public to send images and footage to [email protected] or call 604.717.2541.
Update June 16 VPD have posted full information on how to get your footage over to them including an anonymous YouTube tipline. You can also get this information from the Vancouver Police on Facebook as their website is experiencing very high volumes of traffic.
Update June 16 VPD said on Twitter that you can also always use Crime Stoppers to report a crime anonymously.
Update June 17 VPD said that you can also text a tip ‘BCTIP’ to 274637.
Help police identify people like this. Photo credit:
CBCChrisBrownThis violence is embarrassing and above all dangerous to emergency crews and the general public. “There’s hardly a window around us,” reported Chris Gailus on Global BC. CTV’s Rob Brown said, “It’s amazing that people feel so comfortable walking in front of their fellow citizens and stealing.”
Even “#canucksriot” was trending on Twitter tonight.
After Vancouver finally showed its beauty and grace on the world’s stage during the Olympics last year, this has bumped us back down a notch. We won’t wake up tomorrow and mourn the Canucks’ loss. We’ll mourn the loss of civility and order that was experienced on the streets tonight.
Update 11:30pm For some perspective, this is happening blocks away from my house. As a Canucks fan, resident of downtown Vancouver, and someone with a voice online, I’ll be sharing updates for as long as it takes to get through this.
Update June 16 12:00am Please read the official statement from Vancouver’s Mayor Gregor Robertson (this was his second of the night) and this article from the Globe and Mail, which is why the more uplifting “#thisismyvancouver” was also trending on Twitter into the early hours of the morning.
“Surveying the damage downtown. Dedicated crews working hard to clean up and fix windows”.
Photo credit: @
MayorGregorUpdate June 16 Ed Lau also posted a plea on his blog, For Our City, For Our Canucks, End the Stupidity Now” and Steffani Cameron has published a fan’s poem. Kimli has also identified several of the rioters on her blog.
Update June 16 8:00am I was on CanadaAM at 5:05am to talk about how people have rallied through social media and started organizing events for the morning to help clean up. As of about 8:00am June 16th several people had already started to assist with cleanup efforts after City crews worked through the night.
Source: @
604foodtography on Twitter
Cleanup photos submitted to me by my friend Natalie Binns (right)
Update June 16 11:20am The Vancouver Chief of Police is saying the riots were caused by anarchists and criminals disguised as Canucks fans.
The support from Vancouverites continues to pour in. There’s even a “Wall of Love” outside The Bay, which was smashed and looted. People are signing it and offering words of encouragement and sympathy… along with apologies.
Update June 16, 2:00pm After scores of people came downtown to help clean up the aftermath, the City of Vancouver issued an official statement thanking them for their efforts.
“The final sparkle to our clean-up effort has been thanks to the scores of volunteers who headed Downtown this morning with determination, garbage bags and other supplies to help with the clean-up. Those efforts are truly inspiring and appreciated. The city is certainly returning to normal very quickly.” The tag #vancouvercleanup was used all day on Twitter by volunteers who were picking up trash, scrubbing storefronts, leaving messages of support – and thanks.
Update June 17 2:50pm It has come to my attention that The Bay downtown will be hosting a FREE pancake breakfast tomorrow, Saturday June 18 from 9:30am to 11:30am. They would like to thank the volunteers and helpful citizens who showed them support after the store was a prime target during the riot Wednesday night. I confirmed with my source at The Bay that this will be taking place and they wanted to get the word out through grassroots channels — the same way word spread about the cleanup.
I spoke to The Bay’s media contact and received the following quote by email from Dana Hall, Store Director: “After seeing the huge amount of support on Thursday morning, the Bay really just wanted to be able to give back to those who volunteered their time and energy to repair our store and the rest of the Downtown core. Not only are we hoping to say thank you to the clean up volunteers but also to those who put themselves in harms way on Wednesday night to protect downtown. We are truly thankful that those people stepped up to show the city what the real Vancouver is made of. It was amazing to see the community come together on Thursday for something good and we wanted to pay it forward.”
A few people have asked on Twitter if they can volunteer for the breakfast. My contact told me that the associates would like to do it for the community but if they need assistance they’ll put out a call.
Update June 18 11:00am The CBC has tracked down the couple from the famous “kissing couple” photo during the riots to get the real story behind the image.
Update August 2011 The Vancouver Police have published a website where they are asking the public to help identify riot suspects.
Update September 1, 2011 The independent review of the riot has been released.
Canucks fans are everywhere; on the streets, in the airports, and on every continent. When we used to do The Crazy Canucks podcast, we had listeners in New Zealand, China, the United States and the UK. Whether it’s expatriates now living abroad or international fans of the game in general, hockey crosses oceans or borders.
On what is most certainly the most important day in Vancouver Canucks history, I woke up at 4:45am and saw John off to work at the station. Usually I’d go back to bed but on a day like today, how would I ever calm down enough to get back to sleep? I decided to hit Twitter to see if someone, a Canucks fan, in another time zone wanted to chat about playoff fever in their neck of the woods. While I was poking around Nuck-Yeah.com, a resource that lists pubs and places to watch Canucks games from San Diego to Seoul, I received a reply on Twitter from Katie @muffinmyth. She lives in Sweden and is fully prepared for tonight’s final match-up.
Born and raised in Vancouver, Katie has been splitting her time between Stockholm (where her Saskatoon-born husband got a job) and Vancouver while she finished her degree at UBC. “I was here for about 6 months of the last year and a half,” she told me. “Tragically, my flight left Vancouver about an hour after the puck dropped on game 1 of this series. I am hoping to get back to Vancouver twice a year, but it’s a long and expensive trip, so we’ll see.” Her allegiance is to the Canucks, or “any Canadian team, so long as they’re not playing against us.”
I asked her how easy it was to catch a playoff game in Sweden. “We had to pay an extra 75 crowns (about $10) per month for some special sports channels, and now we get all of the games. They are played live, and then re-played commercial free a few more times. They are live at 2:00am, so not much interest in going to a sports bar or getting a crowd together to watch, unfortunately. It makes me homesick seeing the crowds in Vancouver.”
Since the Canucks have their fair share of Swedes on the team, I also wanted to know if there’s a visible or palpable excitement around town surrounding the Stanley Cup finals. Katie said there’s “a little” but she has been stopped a few times wearing her Canucks t-shirt. “The Sedins are a pretty big deal here, so most people want to talk about them. My husband plays hockey with some people from work on Friday mornings and he says that every day people are talking to him about the Canucks.”
As for predictions from across the pond? Katie said it will be close, but a win. “And I said that if the Canucks won the Stanley Cup that I’d run naked down my street in Stockholm. My mother-in-law suggested I wear a flag instead, therefore I acquired the flag which is now flying out our window.” She added that most wouldn’t understand why a naked Canadian would run down the street at 5:00am local time so she’ll stick with the flag idea.
There’s much appeal to Vancouver, around the globe and throughout Canada. After all, we threw a pretty great party last year. However, not everyone is a Canucks fan. We don’t get the East Coast vote (for example most Haligonians identify with the Bruins), and it was determined at the beginning of the playoff run that we’re not really “Canada’s Team”… but I think that’s okay with everyone around here.
Who we are is a community of fans who have ridden the incredible roller coaster that comes with being a supporter of this team, some for a full 40 years. There are ups and downs, it’s scary, and sometimes you get flipped head over heels. In the end, there’s no rush like it.
Go Canucks Go!
There’s only one thing on the mind of everyone in BC right now and that’s hockey. However, after the dust settles tonight (and heart rates return to normal) wouldn’t it be nice to get away? I’m a little late for our BC Travel Tuesday feature but we still have a few properties to go in the series (which expanded from 10 weeks to 12).
backyardbc is a new travel website designed specifically for residents of British Columbia. Essentially a “be a tourist in your own backyard” program, participating hotels & resorts offer residents of BC exclusive rates and specials, designed to motivate BCers to travel more within the Province. Each offer has its own unique reservation code, and all bookings are done directly with our hotel and resort partners. Visit backyardbc online, on Twitter, or Facebook and see more of BC!
The winner of BC Travel Tuesday Week 9: Fairmont Empress Victoria is Dennis L. (and he has been notified by email). This week’s property is also located in Victoria’s James Bay, just a short walk from the Inner Harbour, the Legislature and the city’s top attractions.
Oswego Hotel
Website, Twitter, Facebook, backyardbc listing
Location: 500 Oswego Street, Victoria, BC
About: “Stylish, modern and urban the Oswego Hotel is centrally located in Victoria’s downtown neighborhood of James Bay, just 2 blocks from the Inner Harbour, Legislative Buildings, Royal BC Museum and Beacon Hill Park. A short walk to Victoria’s Conference Centre and just minutes from Harbour Seaplanes, the Helijet terminal, the Victoria Clipper, and the Victoria Express the Oswego Hotel is ideal for business travel. ”
Prize: Two night’s accommodation in a one bedroom suite, includes parking and WiFi.
Value: $600
To enter to win, leave a comment on this post and/or post the following on Twitter:
Gift certificates for hotel and resort stays will be sent directly to each weekly winner so they can arrange their visit personally with the property. Some restrictions apply, based on availability. Must be 19 years of age or older to enter and win.
Update The winner is Sharelle Dayco!
View all posts in the series by following or subscribing to my BCTravelTuesday tag. Open to residents of BC.
This morning the Vancouver Park Board said on Twitter that June 15th (the date of the Canucks game 7 match-up with the Boston Bruins) is also the 170th 103rd birthday anniversary of the death of Lord Stanley1. While we know Stanley for the park that was named in his honor, and his coveted cup, I thought it might be worth learning a bit more about the man with the famous name.
Lord Stanley (Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby) was the 6th Governor General of Canada who served from 1888 to 1893. I learned more about Lord Stanley when we watched the CBC’s Hockey: A People’s History a few years ago, which I highly recommend.
The story goes that Lord Derby (he was Baron Stanley of Preston as well) had two sons that loved to play hockey and got their parents hooked on the game as well. Around 1892-1893 Lord Stanley donated the silver cup that would be awarded to the best amateur hockey club in the country. It was first known as the Challenge Cup and by 1909 it was awarded to professional teams exclusively. Since 1926 it’s been the prize for the top team in the National Hockey League. [source]
However, before there was a cup, there was a park – in Vancouver. From VancouverHistory:
1889 brought us the first visit to Vancouver by a Governor General. On October 29 Lord Stanley of Preston, who had been sworn in the year before, dedicated Stanley Park, which had been opened in September, 1888. An observer at the dedication wrote: “Lord Stanley threw his arms to the heavens, as though embracing within them the whole of one thousand acres of primeval forest, and dedicated it ‘to the use and enjoyment of peoples of all colours, creeds, and customs, for all time’.”
1960. Governor General Georges Vanier unveiling the Lord Stanley statue.
Vancouver archives item# Mon N63.5
A few days before the dedication, incidentally, a letter was written (we’re not sure by whom) promising a suitable monument to commemorate the event. City archivist J.S. Matthews would discover that letter in 1950, more than 60 years after it was written, and realize the promise had not been fulfilled. He began a fund-raising campaign, and raised enough money to commission a statue. It took a while: the statue—created by English sculptor Sydney Marsh, and capturing Stanley’s expansive gesture—wouldn’t be unveiled until May 19, 1960. Fittingly, that ceremony was presided over by another Governor General, Georges Vanier.
Lord Stanley, adorned with a replica cup during the 2011 Stanley Cup Finals in Vancouver, is immortalized at the entrance to the park named in his honor.
You can find him in bronze when you walk along the causeway (from downtown) on the Coal Harbour side – just over the pedestrian bridge. The statue was installed on May 29, 1960, thanks to the research and efforts of our city’s first archivist, Major Matthews.
1 Thanks to Bob Mackin for the correction on the anniversary stat.
When I was growing up in Surrey, our summer activities included rollerblading over to Mac’s for some Frosters, swimming in the Kwantlen Park Pool, running various park trails, and heading out to the skate park with our BMX bikes. Over the last five years or so, there’s been much more going on throughout the summer (and even the whole year) in what was once the City of Parks. Here is a small sampling of some of the free summer festivals and events you can enjoy in Surrey this season.
South Surrey Festival
When: Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 11:00am to 4:00pm
Where: Kwomais Point Park (1379 128 St)
What: Crafts for kids, live music and entertainment, face painting, artisan displays, and more
Website
Surrey Fest Downtown
When: Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 11:00am to 6:00pm
Where: North Surrey Recreation Centre Parking Lot & Central City Plaza
What: The 13th annual festival that celebrates community. Free for all ages to enjoy entertainment, food, activities, silent auction, and displays
Website
Park Play Palooza
When: Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 11:00am to 2:00pm
Where: Cloverdale Athletic Park (6330 168 St)
What: A free park party with live music, rock climbing wall, Science World activities, and more
Website
Surrey Canada Day
When: Friday, July 1, 2011 from 11:00am to 10:30pm
Where: Cloverdale Millenium Amphitheater (176 St and 64 Ave)
What: One of Western Canada’s largest Canada Day celebrations. This all-day event includes rides, food vendors, displays, activities for the family, and a main-stage lineup of artists including Trooper and Elise Estrada.
Website
Surrey Fusion Festival
When: Saturday July 16 & Sunday July 17, 2011 from 11:00am to 10:00pm
Where: Holland Park (Corner of King George Highway & Old Yale Road)
What: A free celebration of global food, music, and culture. It’s one of our favourite annual events with so much to see and do — and did I mention the food? Sample delicacies from around the world, and watch dance and music on the festival stages. Headliners this year include Jay Sean and Bedouin Soundclash.
Website
To reiterate, all of these festivals are free and (hopefully) out in the sunshine this June and July. You can get to all of these locations by transit (either SkyTrain or bus) and they are all family-friendly.
