Olympic Hockey Gold Brings Epic Street Party to Vancouver

Morning coffee at my regular haunt was different Sunday. There are masses of people headed downtown to get a good spot to watch the gold medal men's hockey game, which started at noon. Buses are packed with anxious revellers. From my seat in the window facing West 10th Avenue, I can see groups of people in various stages of costume dress pass by. The excitement is palpable.

On Sunday mornings I help out a friend by walking a temporarily displaced Husky/German Shepard cross through the forest at UBC. This Sunday was no different, except that on my way up the side street I pass an endless row of people headed down to 10th to catch the bus. It's not yet 10:30!

After getting the dog back to its owner, I jump on the fast bus down 4th Avenue. My plan is to watch the game at the Science World Celebration Site, then walk past Canada Hockey Place where the game is being played, into downtown Vancouver. Timing is in my favour as the bus comes right away and gets me to Main Street in record time.

Science World Celebration Site

The actual Science World building is home to Russia's Sochi House, in promotion of that country's hosting the next Winter Olympic Games. No time to stop and investigate now! I pass Maison du Québec and Saskatchewan House, heading straight for the big screens outside Molson Hockey House and Ontario House. I plan to scope out a good spot wherever the viewing is best. The venue is literally in the shadow of GM Place, renamed Canada Hockey Place for the Games, which makes watching the game here extra cool.

The big screen outside Ontario House showed a good quality picture when I was here the other night, but now in the daylight its not very clear. Molson Hockey House it is! Being a shorter female person, I needs to find a raised vantage point somewhere, a curb outside Maison du Québec proves perfect. Beside me is a group of excitable younger people, and behind me an older couple whose muted enthusiasm is no less infectious. People throng past, looking for friends, eating, tooting horns, clanging cowbells and yelling "Go Canada!"

Red is everywhere: jerseys, hoodies, uniforms, jackets, and flags. Flags draped across backs, flags painted on faces, flags held high, flags on backpacks.

Game On!!

The second period is starting; its 1-0 Canada. Canada scores half-way through the second period, and the crowd goes wild. No one wants to say it, but a two-goal lead is pretty comfortable. The crowd cheers but also grits its teeth. In hockey its not over until the bitter end. The second period ends, and people start to get feeling a little punchy. There is restraint though. We can not underestimate this US team.

Half-way through the third period the US scores. Screams and cries from the crowd as Americans dotted through the spectators cheer wildly and ring their bells. The third period is closing, and people are literally freaking out. High fives can be seen, and flags wave more madly then before. Tension rises in the last two minutes. Canada is scrambling. Not enough fore-checking and too much sitting on their heels in the defensive zone. They need to go forward, to get the puck into the US zone! Shouts of "Skate!!", "Pass!" rise up.

The US scores with a half-minute left. Thoughts of doing ourselves severe bodily harm run through the crowd. Our national pride, our very identity, hangs in the balance. Nothing less than a victory over our American big brother will do.

Overtime

The torture. The sheer agony. We wait. People discuss various strategies, run to get a coffee, or just sit glumly waiting for overtime to begin. The crowd jumps to its feet with every eye glued to the big screen. The suspense is unbearable. The crowd is in a frenzy, every spin, every check, every scoring attempt carries us along with it.

SCORE! Sidney Crosby redeems the entire country. Shouting, clapping, cheering, hollering, jumping, laughing, hugging people everywhere. This is intense! I want to wait around to watch the medal ceremony but need to get moving. The big party is going to be in the centre of downtown. I am by the stadium and hope to get carried along with the lucky spectators who actually watched the game live.

Vancouver Street Party

This is unprecedented. Waves upon waves upon waves of overjoyed people are walking everywhere; sidewalks, streets, gathered on benches, climbing trees and bus shelters, carrying each other on their shoulders, all cheering and waving. Others stand on the side allowing this sea of people to pass by. I climb on various walls and benches to get photos of the crowds from above.

The feeling is so pure, such delight. US fans continue to wear their flags with pride, getting endless condolence slaps on the back. It was good game, to be sure.

At Granville Pedestrian Mall and Georgia Street I stop to take photos from atop a bench. Crowded around me are others taking pictures or just soaking in the vibe. Everyone is smiling and cheering. An impromptu high-five session breaks out. Before I know it our little group is caught up in a never-ending high-five parade. Groups of people run up to us, slapping the seven or eight hands outstretched in a row. I can't stop! I'm hoarse from shouting. Every time I think the pace is slowing down another deluge of screaming hooting people passes by, hands stretched out high.

Robson Street

Finally there's a break after a half-hour at least. I make my escape, but before I can get to Georgia Street, there is a truck loaded up with young men standing in the back also demanding high-fives. This time I'm the passerby slapping as many of the outstretched hands as I can. My palm is getting sore, not a joke.

Traffic is at a standstill. Cars are honking, windows are rolled down, people are shouting and waving flags. Since the cars are not really moving I high-five whoever will return the favour through their car windows. There are a few unfortunate souls who look like they might actually have been headed somewhere. Oh well, too bad!

I pass Robson Square with overjoyed people everywhere. Robson Street is again filled. More people jumping, shouting, waving flags and singing. I can't even estimate how many people there are; it's just a constant stream. I park myself on the curb at the intersection in front of a traffic cop. She is doing a great job, balancing celebrating with pedestrians and restraining the too rambunctious. She actually saved a couple of lives I think just in the 10 minutes I stood there; people spilling off the curb into the street without looking for oncoming cars, people dashing into the street to high-five car passengers' hands stuck out the window. When she pours out a full beer into the sewer, confiscated from one reveller, I feign a mild heart attack. She laughs. Canada, hockey, beer . . . it all just goes together perfectly! Not allowed outside though, no open liquor outside in Canada.

Getting Home

My bus! In all the mayhem I am watching if there are any city buses getting through. Too late I spot one across the street headed out of downtown. I make a mad dash, but it's gone. More cheering and partying, then another bus comes not yet full. Until this stop. We cram on. It's quiet. Everyone is tired. Teenagers are falling asleep in their seats. Some people talk quietly on their cell phones while others text -- barely able to keep their eyes open.

Every once in a while a group on the sidewalk lets out a cheer at the crowded bus. We wave and hoot mutedly. Its not right to start screaming on the bus despite our fervour. We understand that. When the bus is stopped people slap the side as if to high-five us all at the same time. Unbelievable, I mean this is insanity. But no one is crazy. Just temporarily crazed.

I have lost my voice, my hand is sore, I haven't eaten since morning and it's going to be dark soon. I drag myself back to my neighbourhood, get some take-out and hit the couch for the Closing Ceremonies.

This is the biggest, greatest spontaneous, unorganized party ever. Not just for Vancouver, but ever. I have no doubt. It goes on long into the night, long after I need to get to bed so bad it almost hurts.