Rain will wash away what ails Vancouver
What’s wrong in the ‘world’s most livable city?’
Rain will continue falling this holiday weekend, on what is sometimes considered the world’s most livable city (annual rankings have been fickle lately). We’re fed up with grey skies and wet sidewalks, tired of ducking umbrellas. It’s supposed to be summer, already.
The rest of the province doesn’t need it — flooding advisories remain in effect in some parts — but one small patch in this city’s downtown peninsula could use the extra precipitation. So bring on the showers. Let it sprinkle on Canada Day crowds, expected to be in the hundreds of thousands. Save Stanley Park from ruin. Save us from ourselves.
A firebug is trying to ruin Vancouver’s precious urban forest. There have been two acts of arson in the past week alone. Last Friday, in the wee hours of the morning, Stanley Park’s miniature train was set ablaze. The attraction’s little station house was burned to the ground, a pernicious, mean-spirited act meant to rob children of pleasure. What sort of a person does that?
On Wednesday, the park’s service yard was targeted. An arsonist torched a pair of Vancouver Park Board vehicles.
Two dozen horses — including Clydesdales, rare Grey Shires and tall police geldings — were nearby, in their stables. They were spooked but unharmed. Once again, fire crews reacted swiftly.
Were it not for the unseasonably wet conditions in the park, both fires would likely have spread.
A “new security strategy” in the park has been implemented, in time for what is usually one of the year’s busiest — and warmest — long weekends. More park rangers will be patrolling; a night shift has been added. More police officers too, including cops in plainclothes. The park board, meanwhile, is asking members of the public to report “any suspicious behaviour.”
Is this what it’s come to? Families on red alert at the playgrounds and picnic tables. Looking for miscreants while on seawall strolls.
On Thursday, seven arson fires were set in North Vancouver. A suspect was arrested; police aren’t sure if the person is responsible for the Stanley park blazes.
This is a blessed city that’s surrounded by natural beauty, so one cannot despair all the time. But sometimes it feels like there’s something very wrong inside. This has been a sad week, and not just for the arsons.
Everyone is lamenting the notorious “child tripping” incident on the University of British Columbia campus, where a young hockey player broke his wrist after he was tripped by the opposing coach, all of it caught on video.
When the world comes to visit, Vancouverites make everyone feel welcome; left to ourselves, we’re not always so kind.
The Stanley Cup riot last year left a horrible stain, and wasn’t the first of its kind. The city experienced another season ending riot, in 1994. What sort of a people do that? What’s wrong here?
More rain is predicted this Canada Day weekend. It may dampen some spirits, but a massive crowd will gather in Stanley Park, regardless. And there’ ll fireworks over Coal Harbour, the right kind. Maybe we’ll do some honest soulsearching, and resolve to do better, because, despite everything, we’re damned lucky to be here, and because we can.