Canucks fans take to the streets to clean up downtown Vancouver after Stanley Cup riot

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      The stench of urine was still in the air along Georgia Street in downtown Vancouver this morning.

      But that didn't stop an army of well-intentioned citizens from trying to take back their city in the aftermath of last night's Stanley Cup riot.

      One Canucks fan, Ward Grant, posted a sign on the boarded Bay window with a simple message: "On Behalf of my team and my city, I'm sorry!"

      Grant told the Straight that the damage "isn't what this city is about".

      "I don't want this to be a reflection on us all," he said.


      Ward Grant says "show your support for the good people of Vancouver".

      As Grant posted his message, a spontaneous cheer erupted from people watching on the Granville Street sidewalk.

      Then he urged those who agreed with him to post their own messages on the wall. Some pulled pens out of their pockets and started writing on the wooden board.


      Ward Grant wants people to heed his call to send a message to rioters.

      Others could be seen sweeping up the mess at a shattered bus stop near the corner of Georgia and Homer streets. Behind them were boarded windows at a Bank of Montreal branch, which was targeted by rioters.

      Over on Seymour Street, Canucks fan Anna Klering was quietly filling a black garbage bag when the Straight caught up with her.


      Anna Klering says real Canucks fans are not hooligans.

      Klering said she and others began tidying up the streets at 7 a.m.

      "These are the real Canucks fans," Klering commented. "These are the real Vancouverites. Also, I just want to say the city has done a great job so far. The volunteers have done a great job so far cleaning it up."

      Follow Charlie Smith on Twitter at twitter.com/csmithstraight.

      Comments

      19 Comments

      Nikki P

      Jun 16, 2011 at 9:53am

      That's just awesome! A big thank you to those cleaning up other people's messes... you rock!

      Linda Wilson

      Jun 16, 2011 at 10:05am

      I can't stop crying!!! (even as I type this) WHAT HAPPENED last night after the game did more damage than burning cars and breaking windows. It has robbed us of our pride. Pride for a team that proved itself all year to be in the Stanley Cup and pride for a beautiful city that has sooo much to offer. I don't know if we will ever get that back. After hosting the Olympics and showing the world that hey we aren't so bad - to this. Showing them what punks and animals can do..... I just don't know. Very quiet all over the city and here in the office..... Everyone is in shell shock I think and can't understand how this happened. It is too bad that those nightmare pictures and news articles will paint all the Canuck Fans and Vancouver with its same dark brush for a long long time.Hopefully those responsible for this sickening terrorism is caught and prosecuted. If I see a face of anyone I know in the photos or on the news that was involved I will be turning them into the Police so fast. And I hope that others do the same. In the streets last night was not a representation of our Canuck Team, their true fans or this wonderful city.

      scathie

      Jun 16, 2011 at 10:19am

      I'm not sorry at all. I think it's time to call a spade a spade and point out that most of the violent rioters were not Vancouverites, but most likely people in from the exuburbs -- from Langley, Abbotsford, and Surrey. These municipalities should be apologizing to us and paying to clean up their mess.

      poopnoodle

      Jun 16, 2011 at 11:29am

      Canook fans gotta stop blaming this on non-fans
      Accept the fact that most Canook fans behaved boorishly throughout the playoffs , a fact noted by many media outlets.
      Time to fix this or no more fun

      Mike403

      Jun 16, 2011 at 11:36am

      Was so proud of the City of Vancouver, Province and everyone for pulling off amazing olympics. Then the Canucks for such a remarkable seasons from opening night in October right tell June. But I am disgusted to what un folded last night. I was a proud Canucker living in Calgary, I am asshamed to even say I am a Canucks fan. But want to say thank you to people out and cleaning up the mess left by others. THANK YOU

      glen p robbins

      Jun 16, 2011 at 12:06pm

      The leaders - Clark, Robertson and Chiu make nothing but excuses. Public Safety pathetic.

      Second Nation

      Jun 16, 2011 at 12:20pm

      There were some heroes last night that confronted the barbarity face-to-face. And this article shows decent people working to make their community better after a terrible event. I'd love to see statues erected in the city of both (1) the brave few last night that stood against so many and (2) those this morning that took action instead of wringing their hands. We need to celebrate such spirit in our city.

      Fan'o Truth

      Jun 16, 2011 at 12:20pm

      @scathie
      I'm not sorry at all. I think it's time to call a spade a spade and point out that most of the violent rioters were not Vancouverites, but most likely people in from the exuburbs -- from Langley, Abbotsford, and Surrey. These municipalities should be apologizing to us and paying to clean up their mess.

      There it is again, the theory that "bridge and tunnel people" are responsible for everything that goes wrong in Vancouver.

      RealityCheck

      Jun 16, 2011 at 12:30pm

      @ scathie...

      Your theory is wrong. There were a lot of Vancouverites involved in this.

      Interesting that both Surrey & Abbotsford held large celebrations for thousands of people with zero problems. So much for blaming the 'burbs for your problems.

      Andrew

      Jun 16, 2011 at 1:33pm

      @RealityCheck

      Just because there were some relatively small public viewing events in 2 suburbs doesn't mean all the citizens of those cities stayed there.

      As for those events being problem-free, the smaller crowds couldn't afford any hooligans the feeling of anonymity (false feeling, anyway) they needed. Thus the influx into the city centre. Hooligans like to go where the action is, and they knew there'd be none in Surrey or Abby.

      Besides - like Vancouverites, they are proud of their own cities and wouldn't want to smash them up.