My Thoughts
on the Canucks Riot in June of 2011
The Canucks Riot in June 2011 happened before I came to Canada (I arrived in 2013), so I did not know anything about this shocking act of unlawful disorder that disturbs the peace and beauty of Vancouver. It is shameful for people in Vancouver to taint the reputation of their own city. They did not know that championships and trophies come and go, but one’s reputation takes forever to wash clean. It will be some time for people to regain their trust in others and bring back the optimism that all Canadians have of their city.
The riots caused indelible damage to the city’s fame. I spoke to my classmates who were here when this occurred. Although most of them were in elementary school and probably unaware of the turmoil that happened in downtown, one of them was actually there with his family. As a superfan of the Vancouver Canucks, my friend Johnny was so excited to be at the location where the Stanley Cup was going to be awarded that he did not want to leave the outdoor venue when his father insisted that it was getting dangerous for them to stay. He reluctantly left but the sight of some burning cars left him confused and angry. To this day, he still couldn’t understand why citizens who were obviously fans failed to protect their city. Instead, they broke windows, smashed cars, and caused five million dollar worth of damages. When I asked him what he would have done today if this happened today, he said he would not have been reckless like those Canucks fans who over-reacted badly.
Even though the violent hockey fans should be responsible for the events, the stadium and Vancouver Canucks team also contributed to the riot; it is dangerous to set up huge screen outside and gather thousands of fanatical fans together. The solely emphasis on team spirit causes irrevocable consequences. In the future, the municipal government should be vigilant in hiring enough security guards and police to ensure the order and enjoyment of huge sporting events.
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