It's the morning after what was supposed to be one of Vancouver's, and British Columbia's, shining moments, and all we can feel is disappointment, shame and disgust.
Disappointment, of course, because our beloved Canucks simply couldn't pull off a miracle against a more physical, determined and strategically better prepared hockey team playing in front of a red-hot goalie. Shame and disgust because a group of perhaps a few hundred thugs (some of them disguised as hockey fans) turned the would-be Stanley Cup celebration into an alcohol-fueled, looting- and burning-vehicle-filled riot. And all of this after the city's successful end-of-Olympics celebration and the fun-filled atmosphere that permeated the city during two-month run-up to Game 7. None of the latter celebrations provided any hint of what was to come -which may help explain why the police appeared a bit slow off the mark when things started to go so terribly awry.
One has to wonder whether things would have been much different had the Canucks won. We suspect those few hundred would have made things difficult for authorities regardless of the outcome on the ice. This writer is frankly ashamed to be a British Columbian today and wondering how long it will be before Vancouverites are allowed to gather in large numbers without the need to have fully prepared riot police waiting nearby. How, pray tell, will Wednesday's night's mayhem - so reminiscent of the (so-called) soccer hooliganism in England -affect the city's, and region's, hard-won place as one of the world's top tourist destinations?
Fortunately, we in Squamish have a chance over the next couple of weeks to show the thugs and hooligans how to stage a celebration free of destruction and mayhem. Starting with this weekend's big Test of Metal -and continuing next week with events marking National Aboriginal Day, St. Jean Baptiste Day and the Shaheedi Gurpurb of Fifth Guru, Guru Arjun Dev Ji (Sikh Celebration) - locals and visitors have a chance to experience a smorgasbord of what makes our community such a terrific place to live, work and play.
The Test, of course, is a three-day celebration of mountain biking that showcases our community's extensive and unparalleled system of trails. It's punctuated on Saturday (June 18) with the 16th running of the full Test of Metal on a 67-kilometre course that tests the skills and fitness of all sorts of riders.
On Tuesday (June 21), our Squamish Nation friends have invited the community to celebrate National Aboriginal Day with drumming and dancing at Totem Hall, followed by the Dean Adams Memorial Canoe Race on the Mamquam Blind Channel.
On Friday (June 24), Squamish's second annual St. Jean Baptiste Day will celebrate the music, art, food and culture of the area's, and Canada's, vibrant francophone community. It all begins at 4 p.m. in downtown Squamish and continues into the evening.
Finally, on Saturday (June 25) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Squamoleans and guests are invited to share in the colourful history and culture of our town's long-established Sikh community. The event will include a parade through downtown Squamish, associated short readings and verbal presentations at the soon-to-be completed O'Siem Pavilion and "Guru Ka Langar" - free food for everyone along the parade route.
With summer about to begin, this is the time to put all that post-Game 7 ugliness behind us and enjoy. Really.
- David Burke
