Vancouver Has Changed — and Not for the Better

🚨 Vancouver Has Changed — and Not for the Better

A Wake-Up Call After the Celebration of Light Bus Stabbing

By Tina Winterlik | July 21, 2025

Last night, something terrible happened in my neighbourhood.

A 28-year-old man was arrested after stabbing someone on a Vancouver bus in Kitsilano. This horrifying incident took place after the Celebration of Light fireworks, when thousands of people were trying to get home. I saw it firsthand — long lines, crowds waiting endlessly at bus stops, confusion in the streets, and very little organization. And now, someone has almost lost their life.

It didn’t have to be this way.

❗ A Preventable Tragedy

The stabbing happened on a TransLink bus, during the chaotic aftermath of a major public event. The fireworks drew massive crowds, and yet there were nowhere near enough buses to get people home quickly and safely. I watched from an apartment and saw it unravel:

• Young men fooling around in alleys
• Crowds growing impatient and uncomfortable
• Police overwhelmed, busy directing traffic instead of protecting vulnerable people

This is not the Vancouver I grew up in.

🕰️ We Used to Do Better

After the 2011 Stanley Cup riots, the city took crowd control seriously. They brought in helicopters. They cleared streets fast. We learned painful lessons then. But now, it’s like we've forgotten them.

Why weren’t there 10–15 long articulated buses pre-positioned on Cornwall Avenue or nearby to quickly move people out after the fireworks?
Why does TransLink think it’s acceptable to leave thousands of people waiting for an hour or more, in the dark, with no washrooms, no shelter, no staff, and no answers?

🏙️ Vancouver: A City Losing Its Soul

This incident didn’t happen in isolation. It’s part of a disturbing pattern:

• More violence and chaos in public spaces
• Underfunded transit and social services
• A growing sense of neglect, especially in lower-income and high-traffic areas

Our city feels colder, more hostile, and less caring than it once did. And while politicians and transit officials talk about “efficiency” and “sustainability,” basic safety and dignity are being ignored.

🚍 TransLink, City of Vancouver — We Deserve Better

Events like the Celebration of Light should be joyful. Families, kids, and visitors all come to the beach for wonder and beauty — not to risk being caught in a dangerous, unstable situation on the way home.

We need:

• Proper transit logistics for large events
• Emergency response coordination between TransLink and VPD
• Clear communication with the public
• Accountability when things go wrong

✊ I'm Angry, and You Should Be Too

This isn’t about blaming one person. It’s about a broken system that’s failing its people.
Someone was stabbed on a public bus last night because we allowed chaos to fester where there should have been care.

This must be a turning point.

If you agree, share this post. Write your own. Email City Hall. Tag @TransLink and @CityofVancouver. Demand answers. Demand change. Because safety isn’t optional — it’s a basic right.

#Vancouver #Kitsilano #TransLinkFail #PublicSafety #CelebrationOfLight #Fireworks2025 #CivicAccountability #ZipolitaWrites #TinaWinterlik #WeDeserveBetter