There are a few things that are obviously Canadian. We live in a large, mostly cold country. We make maple syrup. We have a tendency to apologize for everything. Oh, and we Canadians like our hockey, eh? So it’s only natural to conclude that a city’s favourite team losing at hockey results in unhappy Canadians. Especially in game seven of the Stanley Cup Finals. But since when do unhappy Canadians equal destruction and rioting? The Vancouver riots that occurred on Wednesday, June 15th were absolutely absurd, causing over 100 injuries and resulting in over 100 arrests. Damage estimates are now estimated at well over $1 million for the property destruction to cars, store fronts and subsequent looting.
Thankfully, many people have been speaking out, agreeing that this is an absurdity and behaviour such as this is unacceptable. I cannot recall a time when I have been more ashamed of my fellow Canadians. This incident has made me begin to question basic human decency. Perhaps I look for the best in all people, and I have a naively optimistic outlook on the world. But how on Earth can adults act this way? The vandals, as well as the bystanders who acted as instigators and provided an audience for this behaviour, are at fault. No amount of alcohol consumption or drug ingestion is an excuse for this type of behaviour. How can people not think about what they are doing and proceed so recklessly? How can they harm one another and damage others’ properties like that… and over a single sporting event? It really worries me that there are people out there who behave this way. There is a basic civility that all humans should consider and abide by: to treat others (and their belongings) the way you wish to be treated. This concept was completely abandoned here, and it has left me feeling disgusted.
It also seems that people are not learning from their mistakes either. A similar riot erupted after a game seven loss in Vancouver in 1994 when the Canucks lost to the New York Rangers. That time, damages totalled $1.1 million, with 200 reported injuries.
Although this should not have even been necessary, I think a higher police presence was required. It is very unfortunate that riots such as these need to be anticipated, but clearly they do. In almost all of the video footage I have seen from the riots, very few police were visible. Perhaps if the police presence was more pronounced, the rioting would not have escalated the way it did. Maybe in the future, people will be able to enjoy a hockey game in Vancouver without worrying about their safety and the fallout of a potential loss.
The only solace I can take from this entire situation is what happened after the riots, as the sun began to rise the next day. Thousands of volunteers within Vancouver flocked to clean up and repair what they could in the wake of the destruction. Campaigns on various social media outlets are now attempting to identify the vandals who caused these atrocities to the City of Vancouver. Efforts are being made to make things right again. However, it still upsets me greatly that people could ever behave this way in the first place.
I hope that all people will one day be able to think about their actions and act with decency towards one another. I hope that people can be good losers and respect the accomplishments of others. In this case, the Boston Bruins simply played a superior hockey game and I extend congratulations to them.
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