1994 Stanley Cup riot

The 1994 Stanley Cup Riot occurred in Downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, on the evening of June 14, 1994 and continued into the following morning. The riot arose after Game 7 of the 1994 Stanley Cup Finals in which the Vancouver Canucks lost to the New York Rangers.

After the NHL contest was concluded, 50,000 to 70,000 individuals reportedly converged upon Downtown Vancouver. What initially was a gathering developed into a riot at Robson and Thurlow Street. This happened after an accident involving one or more victims who fell through scaffolding related to construction of a building on the corner, and later spread to surrounding areas of downtown. [cite book |url = http://www.macleans.ca/article.jsp?content=20051222_140516_2124 | title = The Book of Lists, The Canadian Edition | id = ISBN 0-676-97720-0 | chapter = Chapter 4: Canadian sports riots | publisher = Macleans ] [cite news | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F03EEDF163DF936A25755C0A962958260 | title = There Is No Joy In Vancouver |date= 1994-06-15 | publisher = New York Times ] Total damage to the downtown core was estimated at $1.1 million CAD. Like other Robson and surrounding retailers, the then Eaton's department store had more than 50 of its storefront windows smashed.

Subduing the crowd required the efforts of both the Vancouver Police Department and Royal Canadian Mounted Police officers. In all, 540 officers were directly involved with the riot. Many individuals were arrested and charged, and up to 200 individuals were injured. [cite news | url = http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E0D6163DF935A25755C0A962958260 | title = 200 Injured In Vancouver |date= 1994-06-16 | publisher = New York Times ]

Aftermath

Ryan Berntt, a rioter who was shot in the head with a plastic bullet by police, causing a four-week coma and permanent brain damage, filed a civil suit against police and the City of Vancouver claiming excessive force. In 1997, he was found 75 percent liable for his own injuries, however, the British Columbia Court of Appeal ordered a new trial in 1999. In 2001, Bernett's civil suit was dismissed by the Supreme Court of British Columbia. [cite news|title=B.C. judge dismisses Stanley Cup riot lawsuit|url=http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2001/12/17/berntt011217.html|publisher=CBC News|date=2001-12-17|accessdate=2008-09-21]

References

External links

* [http://videopedia.ca Video footage of the riot] at Videopedia.ca