Vancouver Waterfront Security Looks Good for 2010 Winter Olympics

It's beginning to look a lot like the Olympics on the downtown Vancouver waterfront. The working harbor is often a hub of activity with ferries, tankers, trains and helicopters shuttling people and goods around at all hours of the day. But in the last two weeks, some very unique, temporary additions have appeared.

I live in Gastown, a neighborhood in downtown Vancouver, which shares an abundant shoreline with Vancouver Harbor. For me and my fellow residents, the biggest change is likely the new security checkpoint along Waterfront Road. The small white tents appeared a couple of weeks ago, but it wasn't until this week that their purpose became clear. All traffic heading to the Convention or Exhibition Center is stopped, questioned, and sent into an inspection line inside the tents, where I assume vehicles are checked for explosives and other possible contraband. The whole process goes more quickly than you might expect, with travelers only waiting about 15 minutes at peak times. The whole checkpoint -- tents, trailers, road barriers, 10-15 security staff, and giant lights that make night seem like day -- gives me a whole new appreciation for how huge and elaborate a job Olympic security must be. (And a new appreciation for the night sky. Those lights inadvertently shine into the homes of everyone in Gastown with a harbor view, and I won't be sorry to see them go in March.)

Security measures have affected the waterfront rail yards, as well. Industrial and commercial trains are no longer allowed to sit out on the rails for extended periods of time, as they can provide nooks and crannies in which someone could conceivably hide. The rail line closest to the waterfront has been lined up with classic passenger trains, with bright temporary lighting illuminating their path. These serve two purposes: decoration and security. The trains are certainly more eye-catching and festive than the usual cargo cars, and they provide a 16' tall metal barricade between the train yard and the shoreline.

It's not just the land that looks different -- there are plenty of new sights for locals on the water as well. Military and police boats have become quite common, as they patrol the Exhibition and Convention Centers from the ocean. Even as I type I can see four gunmetal gray boats of various sizes drifting around where, usually, cruise ships moor, and a large Coast Guard ship drifting near the middle of the harbor.

Seeing as their usual "parking spot" has been taken by the military, it's fortunate that cruise ships have duties beyond carrying tourists this month! In fact, three of them showed up at the shipping docks along the coast of East Vancouver a couple of weeks ago. These are not your average hotels, floating or otherwise: they are housing over 11,000 police, military, and private security personnel for Olympic Games security.

The Games have not started yet, but the view of Vancouver has already been altered much for locals such as myself. Looking out at the changes along the shoreline and on the water in the Vancouver Harbor has given me a much better appreciation of the Olympic security effort. The lights will eventually come down, in a month, and the cruise ships will return to their regular routes, but for now, from my vantage point, everything looks pretty safe in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.