Vancouver 2010 Olympics glass company vows to fix smashed cauldron
The thick, tempered glass covering the base of one of the pillars of the Vancouver Olympic cauldron was smashed early Saturday morning.
Police were called to Jack Poole Plaza at 9:30 a.m., about five hours after the intentional vandalism.
“We are super disappointed that this happened. Why anybody would do that, we don’t know,” said Const. Jason Doucette, who added there is surveillance video of the incident.
“People obviously went there prepared to damage this item, there were two men as far as we know, and it appears they were using a blunt instrument,” he said.
There are hundreds of glass panels covering the cauldron, all individually made by Studio 3 Glass in Port Coquitlam.
Owner Nasar Niki said he thought he was dreaming when Vancouver’s Olympic organizers asked him to help make the iconic cauldron for the 2010 Winter Games.
“They picked me and the company because of our past reputation, and we are really known in this industry. So I was extremely happy, honoured and excited. For the whole seven or eight, or nine months, I couldn’t even sleep well,” said Niki.
In the 12 years since his glass work was featured so prominently in the 2010 Olympics, he has visited the cauldron dozens of times.
“Anytime I travel downtown, that is a spot I never ever miss to look at it or drive by,” said Niki, who was upset to learn six of his glass panels were smashed by vandals.
“To be honest with you, it’s breaking my heart big time. Sometimes I talk with my friends and say the cauldron is like my baby,” Niki said.
His company has been asked to replace the shattered panels, which will take time.
“For those six pieces, we need to provide the templates and start from scratch and try to create the exact texture,” he said, adding he’s determined to make the repair look seamless.
While the cauldron is a high-profile target, glass-smashing vandals are nothing new in Vancouver. Window breaks are up dramatically throughout the city, especially downtown. And it’s often done for no apparent reason.
“Why people are doing this, I have no idea. It’s not like they’re breaking this to get to an item that will allow them to make money to support habits. There is nothing like that in this case for sure,” said Doucette.
The Vancouver Police Department is planning to release surveillance video of the suspects. “I’d like to see them caught,” Doucette added. “It’s a careless act of vandalism, and they should be held accountable.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Police say another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.