Vancouver Canucks enthusiasts engage in unrest after Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup final in downtown Vancouver on Wednesday, June 15, 2011. Photo credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Geoff Howe.
Back on June 15, 2011, the city of Vancouver witnessed an unexpected turn of events when riots erupted in the aftermath of Game 7 of the NHL Stanley Cup final, held downtown. The Vancouver Canucks suffered a surprising 4-0 defeat at the hands of the Boston Bruins, setting the stage for a chaotic series of events.
At that time, Ted Field, who was working as an assignment editor with Global B.C. and stationed in Surrey, B.C., found himself swiftly reassigned to downtown Vancouver as the situation escalated. The scenes that unfolded were far from ordinary, with smoke billowing into the sky and cars being set ablaze. Among the damaged areas, a parkade near the Hudson’s Bay building stood out, witnessing multiple cars succumbing to flames. Field, recalling the intensity of the moment, remarked, “You just sort of go, 'Oh, Lord, what are we going into?' There’s a large crowd, and there was a vehicle that had been damaged.”
The downtown streets became a battleground as rioters wreaked havoc, causing substantial damage to various buildings in the core of the city. A subsequent report shed light on the extent of the aftermath, revealing that the total damage amounted to slightly over $3.7 million. Shockingly, 112 businesses and 122 vehicles bore the brunt of the chaos, and reports indicated 52 assaults against civilians, police, and emergency personnel.
Field and his colleague, who were on the scene, experienced firsthand the aggression that permeated the atmosphere that day. Despite the widespread damage, Field noted a remarkable turn of events in the days following the riots. He recounted, “The day after the riot, with so much broken glass down there, the story of people grabbing their dust pans and brooms and garbage bags and going down and trying to clean up what happened to the Hudson’s Bay store.” This grassroots effort reflected a collective spirit of resilience and solidarity, where community members came together to restore some semblance of order.
In the latest installment of "What Happened to…?" Erica Vella engages in a conversation with Ted Field, delving into his experiences covering the tumultuous events of that June night in 2011. The discussion explores not only the chaotic moments captured by Field but also sheds light on the subsequent collective endeavor to instigate change and foster accountability in the aftermath of the riots. The conversation provides a human perspective on a challenging chapter in the city's history, revealing the resilience and community spirit that emerged from the wreckage.
