1994 Riots: Only a year later…

So not only we did not win the Stanley Cup, but our city and province received a black eye thanks to rioters, businesses lost money thanks to looters, and history was made yet again but not for the right reasons.

As I write this blog, I am watching live footage on television from the most recent riot that is taking place in and around Downtown Vancouver.

So what happened? Here’s my assessment:

• City of Vancouver overestimated the maturity of the general public based on how well behaved the crowds were during the 2010 Winter Olympics. The participants’ demographics are so different that any comparison was purely a mistake.
• Cities continue to underestimate the impact of alcohol on general public… let’s face it: Alcohol makes good people do bad things.
• Yet again, Vancouver Police Department failed in its preparations. As always, officers were outnumbered by thugs. Perhaps we’ll hire more police officers from the neighbouring provinces next time around.
• We had people watch a violent, albeit beloved, sport with no way of releasing the built up tension. Some analysts have even called this series one of the “dirtiest” Stanley Cup series ever. Violence brews violence.
• City of Vancouver does not want to be held accountable for its mistakes so it continues to point fingers at others for the mishaps that occur within the city borders. Once again, City Hall Officials, Vancouver Police Department, media and Downtown residents continued to blame “suburbanites” and non-Downtown residents for the riot. I guess I failed to notice all the violent idiots that live in and around Downtown Vancouver. To resolve a problem, one must recognize that there’s a problem.
• Vancouver continues to lack the infrastructure that can support large events. I’m no city manager, but I would think that stuffing large crowds in small and uncontrolled environment could be dangerous.

I was a Downtown resident during the 1994 riots; I was 22 at the time and I did not participate in the riots.

I am now a 39 year-old Surrey resident. Earlier today, after speaking with my wife, we agreed that it would be a great idea to take the kids Downtown so they can be part of a Stanley Cup history. Gosh, was I ever wrong. We left the siren-filled city with me having to reassure my 5 year-old daughter that everything will be just fine as we walked over to our car.

Sadness filled my heart as I began to drive away from Downtown Vancouver over Cambie Street Bridge while watching a rising dark cloud of smoke through my rear-view mirror.

We have a long way to go to be a “World Class” city.

Thank you for reading,

Armin

PS. All the violence overshadowed the hard work of our beloved Vancouver Canucks. What a great season they had!

PPS. It’s safe to assume that at age 39 I did not participate in the 2011 riots either.