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
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6863574.1714160588!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
LIVE B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in "all public spaces," marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
AFN chief says Air Canada offered a 15% discount after her headdress was mishandled
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief complained to Air Canada about how staffers treated her and her ceremonial headdress on a flight this week, she says the airline responded by offering a 15 per cent discount on her next flight.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
DEVELOPING Bird flu outbreaks: WHO weighs in on public health risk
The current overall public health risk posed by the H5N1 bird flu virus is low, the World Health Organization said on Friday, but urged countries to stay alert for cases of animal-to-human transmission.
Island near Mull of Kintyre for sale for US$3.1 million
An idyllic 453-acre private island is up for sale off the west coast of Scotland and it comes with sandy beaches, puffins galore, seven houses, a pub, a helipad and a flock of black-faced sheep.