A leading downtown business organization does not want to see another hockey-focused public event in the streets this spring if the Vancouver Canucks go deep into the Stanley Cup playoffs.
Although the position of the Downtown Vancouver Business Improvement Association is to support outdoor public events such as last falls Grey Cup festivities, setting up so-called live sites for another playoff run is the exception.
Its too soon, we may need a bit of a break, said Charles Gauthier, executive director of the business improvement association. Maybe we can do it for some of the games. But as we get closer and into round four, I just think its too soon and our businesses would have a lot of concerns.
Added to his concern is the slow pace of the justice system dealing with suspects arrested in last Junes riot, which erupted downtown after the Canucks lost to the Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup Final.
So far, only one man has pleaded guilty for participating in the riot and was sentenced last week to a 17-month jail term. Ryan Dickinson, 20, participated in the destruction of two unmarked police cars and threw a mannequin and newspaper box into a Black and Lee Tuxedo shop, the court heard.
If were only going to get through a small batch of [the cases] between now and June, I just dont see the benefits of doing a large-scale public event with viewing areas, Gauthier said.
His suggestion is to let people celebrate indoors, possibly inside B.C. Place Stadium and in Rogers Arena, when the Canucks are on the road. Police Chief Jim Chu favoured the stadium option last spring but the building was closed at the time for renovations.
The city hasnt said what its approach will be when the Canucks begin their playoff run in April. The team is hovering at the top of the National Hockey League standings and is assured a playoff spot.
While downtown businesses benefit from the number of people a Canucks game attracts, Gauthier said the destruction and trauma of the June 15 riot are fresh in the minds of business owners and employees.
That fact was pointed out in Vancouver Provincial Court last week during the sentencing of Dickinson. Crown prosecutor Patti Tomasson characterized the riot as akin to a home invasion of the whole community.
Damages to businesses was estimated at $2.7 million, with $900,000 sustained at the Bay at Georgia and Granville, and another $100,000 to Blenz coffee shop in the 400-block of West Georgia Street.
Tomasson said people trapped in both businesses were terrorizedthey thought the buildings were on fireand some sought counselling after a night that resulted in damages to 112 businesses and 122 vehicles.
Dickinson was sentenced to 16 months in prison for participating in a riot, and an additional month for violating his curfew from a previous charge on the night of the riot.
But Tomasson didnt seek restitution and told the judge the reason was connected to a request for a longer jail sentence and that Dickinsons means werent great.
Though business owners have asked for restitutionboth financial and community serviceGauthier said the business association agreed with the Crowns approach to sentencing in the Dickinson case.
Our preference on this one was a greater sentence, primarily because this individual does have a criminal record and he wasnt supposed to be downtown that night, he said. But going forward, if the sentences are going to be lighter, or no sentences, then we want to see some kind of community service or restitution incorporated into the sentence of the individual.
Twitter: @Howellings
