A modest proposal for Christy Clark and the cancelled #OmTheBridge yoga event

The cancellation of the unexpectedly controversial Om The Bridge yoga event planned for the Burrard Street Bridge in Vancouver on June 21 might have sponsors and organizers (and battered B.C. premier Christy Clark) looking for a way to salvage the day—and their dignity.

With that in mind, I put forward this modest proposal.

The ongoing (and highly publicized worldwide) FIFA 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada is split between six cities: Edmonton, Winnipeg, Ottawa, Montreal, Moncton, and Vancouver. Vancouver still has three games scheduled before the second stage of the tournament kicks in, when it will host two round-of-16 games, one quarter-final match, and the prestigious July 5 final.

The brand-new B.C. Place artificial turf is also beset by controversy—installed just a week before the World Cup opened and criticized by some players because of its slipperiness, powder residue, and spraying sand and rubber pellets—and needs, according to its manufacturers and installer, six to eight weeks of use to settle down and realize its maximum potential.

Ongoing watering and rolling/compressing can’t really hurry up the process as naturally as would a bunch of athletes. But those soccer games only see a few more than two dozen players and officials on the field surface at a time.

Why doesn’t Clark get on the phone to B.C. Crown corporation PavCo (which operates B.C. Place) and arrange to switch the yoga celebration to the stadium? Pick a new date close to the original (in order to avoid the perceived insensitivity shown by its previous overshadowing of local National Aboriginal Day celebrations) and bring in thousands of yoga fans?

That would probably help settle the criticized new turf better than a bunch of soccer games, and all in a few hours.

On a nice day, with the roof retracted, the sun shining in, the giant screens reflecting the event, and the colourful participants, it would be a photo-op that might make Clark reconsider her decision to stay away from its poisonous predecessor. Mayor Gregor Robertson would probably put in an appearance. (Hell, even B.C. NDP leader John Horgan might show.)

The concessions would do a booming business, and the province could turn a profit on an event that was previously criticized for costing taxpayers $150,000. Vendor booths could sell yoga-related merchandise, FIFA Women's World Cup could get involved and market tickets to a likely demographic (rumours were that some games were selling poorly), and maybe YYoga and Lululemon would rejoin the fold as sponsors.

Clark could even extend an olive branch to the Musqueam, Tsleil-Waututh, and Squamish First Nations and allow them to host some cultural exhibits, opening blessings, and dance exhibitions.

It might be so popular, and profitable, that it could become an annual event.

And because of the service to the World Cup, the day would reap worldwide publicity. True win-win.

You can’t buy that.

You’re welcome.