We lost the Cup. That was painful, whether you were watching the game on TV, in the stands, or at any of the city’s big screen gathering places. But watching how fast disappointment turned to rage and rioting was heartbreaking for the thousands of fans who just want to enjoy hockey, win or lose.
We’ve all seen the coverage, so I don’t want to belabour the ugliness of it. But there were many signs of citizen engagement during and after the riot, and that gives me heart and hope. Facebook became a gathering place for everyone who wanted to speak out against the violence, join together to help identify the culprits, and clean up after the mess.
The Post-Riot Clean-Up event was one of the first. Over 17,000 signed up to attend, and it looks like they may have all made it down! The pictures of the Canuck fans cleaning up on Thursday morning are inspiring: resolute faces, determined to show the best of our city. If you were thinking you could wander downtown this afternoon and help with the clean-up, you were out of luck: there wasn’t a scrap of torn jersey or cigarette butt left to be found on our streets.
Everyone helping the Clean Up Effort
Clean Up of Burned Vancouver Police Car
Bakers serving cookies to the Riot Clean Up crew
And more pictures from CTV’s coverage.
Reading the @VancouverClean twitter feed just makes me want to cry happy tears.
A variety of sites are up on Facebook where you can post pictures of the rioters and ask others to tag those photos to help identify the criminals. If you took photos or videos of violence, vandalism or looting at the riot downtown, the Vancouver Police are asking you to send that evidence to robbery@vpd.ca.
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Wow….. very proud of the VancouverClean volunteers who help clean up today. Thank you
I walked down granville before work this morning, and was almost in tears; i was so ashamed and embarrassed. Thank you to everyone who pitched in and helped. Those of us stuck at work today were thinking about you and wishing we were able to lend a hand. It is the people of this town who make Vancouver beautiful and i hope THIS video/picture footage gets the international airplay it deserves!
I applaud all of you! As a Boston fan, my heart ached for all of the good people and business people that were affected by the actions of a few hoodlums. It was just a hockey game!
By reading and looking at all the pictures still made me in tears. Thank you all who gave their helping hands to help out and clean our City. Agree with Denise M. – It is the people who really cared about their city really make the city more beautiful.
God bless all your heart!
The guy in the first photo is an excellent parent and role model for those kids. Warms my heart!
Be proud Vancouverites! You have a beautiful city and beautiful people living within it. Many other cities have experienced riots and violent protests, but no other city has had the social conscience and committment to put right what others ruined in the aftermath. The pride that the citizens of Vancouver have for their city is second to none. Please know that so many of us from outside your wonderful province know that the vast majority of Vancouverites are amazing, friendly and kind people.
Hi,
yes you are right, there is still some hope when some of us stand together civilisation is not lost, yet.
Citizen’s engagement is still ok.
Frank
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Many other cities have experienced riots and violent protests, but no other city has had the social conscience and committment to put right what others ruined in the aftermath.Citizen’s engagement is still ok.
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