I’m going to do that thing you’re not supposed to do in Alberta – and that is talk about the Vancouver Canucks. 

But I’m not going to talk about their dismal loss on June 15. What I’m going to talk about is the absolutely disgusting actions of the so-called “fans” that destroyed a beautiful Canadian city and embarrassed us on an international level that will take us years to recover from. 

I awoke the morning after the game to images of smiling idiots posing in front of burning cars and smashed windows. I imagined the families that had gathered downtown, fleeing with their children before the violence got completely out of control. Police officers suiting up in full-blown riot gear, possibly terrified of what they were going to face. When they did march into the streets, they were disrespected. Things were thrown at them, they were called “pigs”. Some were injured, their marked cars burnt in an image that was so barbaric. Business owners returned to their properties to discover their life’s work torn apart, and vehicle owners reeled as they wondered how they would get to work or pay the insurance fees on the charred remains of their vehicles. Reportedly, one woman was punched in the face by a man as she was trying to protect her destroyed vehicle.

This took place in Canada, in 2011. And while the rioters may be proud of all the things they destroyed they are being looked upon as monsters and losers by the rest of Canada.

Touring through Facebook groups, Tumblr accounts and more set up in the aftermath with the intent of posting and naming the people involved in the riots, the most terrifying and pathetic thing I found was pages of Facebook profile screenshots of barely-literate hooligans celebrating their “free stuff” that was looted from various stores in downtown Vancouver. These items weren’t free – you took things that belonged to someone else. 

The most frightening thing about these people proclaiming how awesome the Vancouver Riot of 2011 was, is they seemed to have no fear of being caught – and when their friends told them they were admitting to a crime publicly, they scoffed. You can’t catch me. 

It’s true, many of these people won’t be caught – but an online movement has begun to name the people involved. The Vancouver Police Department read the Riot Act to these fools, who I imagine didn’t read that fine print when they entered into their violence. This is what it says:

“Her Majesty the Queen charges and commands all persons being assembled immediately to disperse and peaceably to depart to their habitations or to their lawful business on the pain of being guilty of an offence for which, on conviction, they may be sentenced to imprisonment for life.”

I’m disappointed in the many people that stood by and watched. While they may have recorded crucial evidence for the VPD to comb through image by image, they could have stood up for their city. They could have walked away and left the rioters without an audience. They could have cleared downtown Vancouver for the police to move in, and allow them to single out those who were actually taking part. They could have done a lot of things, but instead they chose to watch and record our national shame.

I urge everyone to browse those photos online and tag people you may recognize. Let’s take a page right out of the pathetic rioters’ book, and use the anonymity they thought they had by covering their faces while conducting their horrendous crimes, and use online anonymity to send in tips and help out the VPD.

There was a wonderful ray of hope that came out of the riots; a Facebook campaign was organized to get the true Canucks fans out to clean up the mess that was left in the wake of these thugs. I was extremely proud to see high school kids, adults and other fans out cleaning up their city the morning after they were embarrassed the world over. Had I been in Vancouver I would have been out there too. It started the restoration of the reputation Vancouver built after the 2010 Olympics, but it’s such a small start. 

The people who started the riots came prepared, and I imagine they would have rioted whether the Canucks won or lost. I hope, even pray, that the world does not think that the rioters reflect Canada’s game. What the riots reflect is a bunch of pathetic criminals that don’t care about the game and have no respect for their country or city. I hope the City of Vancouver isn’t discouraged from holding celebrations for future Stanley Cup playoffs, but I understand if they are shaky the next time Luongo and the gang advance past the regular season. It’s a classic case of a few bad apples ruining it for everyone else. 

To those thinking Canada is full of these brutes, I hope you know that I, and many other Vancouver Canucks fans, just wanted to see our boys win. We just wanted the Stanley Cup to return to its rightful home on Canadian soil.  

DISCLAIMER: The Last Word is an opinion column, it is meant to provoke thought and debate. As such, any opinions written here are the writer’s own and do not reflect the viewpoint of any other Fitzhugh staff member or the directors of the Jasper Media Group Inc.