It would have been an appropriate time to mourn the loss and reflect on the countless good memories of hockey games past that lead up to it. Unfortunately, that opportunity was quickly stolen by pockets of unbridled idiocity.
Brawls, shattered storefront windows, and overturned, burning cars were common sights in select areas of the downtown core, with the small groups of perpetrators being fuelled by the interest and attention of a large group of bystanders, seemingly ignorant of the fact that their presence inspired the rioters and inhibited the actions of local law enforcement.
Intent to not acknowledge the moronic actions of the protesters, I snapped one picture, from a distance, of smoke billowing from a popular intersection in a city considered to be among the most civilized in the world.
I, like many other Vancouverites, was disgusted. I went to bed feeling my city's wounded pride.
The next morning, feeling slightly hungover from what I had witnessed the day before, I was curious to see the aftermath of the night before. I was pleased to see that the swift action of the city and volunteers had cleared the streets of most of the signs of the riots - only the boarded up windows betrayed the fact that the riot had actually occurred.
Later in the day, on my way back home, I witnessed some signs of the upswell of goodwill and harmony rising from those intent to make sure that their voices, as true Vancouverites were heard - quickly covering the boards on every street corner, previously symbolic of the night before's chaos, and the streets of Granville proclaiming "We Love Vancouver". That they, in numbers, were proud of the Canucks, disgusted with the hooligans, and are the true representatives of this great city.
This feels more like the Vancouver I know.
Chapters, Robson and Howe:
Granville Street:
Seymour Street:
The Hudson Bay Company, Georgia Street:
Futureshop, Robson and Granville:
