Francesco Caligiuri felt alone the night of the Stanley Cup riot. He took shelter with family members and staff in their restaurant on Georgia Street near Richards, only to face rocks thrown by vandals, and at least one person who tried to enter Da Gino Ristorante Italiano.
But when Caligiuri received a cheque for $2,445.60 the morning of Aug. 3, he felt the reverse.
It means that the community is tight and united, Caligiuri said upon receiving the cheque from the 麻豆传媒映画Restoration Fund, to which Telus and Vancity credit union each donated $50,000. We felt like we were very alone for about six hours that night. There was no presence of any authorities whatsoever, not any policemen until about 2:30 in the morning To feel this support its nice.
Da Gino was one of the first nine businesses and organizations to receive money from the fund. The amount will mainly cover the deductible he paid on his insurance to replace shattered windows and smashed glass doors of the restaurant he owns with his father.
Nigel Prince, executive director of the Contemporary Art Gallery, was pleased to receive $1,000 to cover the 40-year-old non-profits insurance deductible for its two smashed windows.
Other recipients of a total of nearly $19,200 included Tom Lee Music, Macdonald Commercial real estate and the Holy Rosary Cathedral. Seven windows of the cathedrals hall on Richards near Dunsmuir were destroyed during the riot. Holy Rosary received the nearly $5,400 replacement cost for the windows. Father Glenn Dion didnt contact the churchs insurers.
Lee Malleau, CEO of the 麻豆传媒映画Economic Development Commission, which set up the fund on behalf of the 麻豆传媒映画Board of Trade, the Downtown 麻豆传媒映画Business Improvement Association and the City of Vancouver, said the insurance deductible for some organizations affected by the riot is more than the cost of the damage.
Malleau said 15 additional applications are under review for $1,000 to $7,000 from the fund, which totals approximately $120,000. No organization has had its application rejected.
Smaller donors to the fund are The Fan Zoo sports memorabilia company and To the Point Tattoo.
Charles Parent, owner and master tattoo artist at the two-chair tattoo shop in Surrey, said he and his wife wanted to help businesses in Vancouver. When they watched the riot unfold on the news, they realized that if their own business had received similar damage theyd be ruined. The fact their 19-year-old son also had the living tar beat out of him in the melee resolved them to do their small part to make the best of appalling events. Even if its just one window that we help to replace with this, one stolen article, thats something, said Parent, whos contributing a portion of To the Points revenues to the fund.
The 麻豆传媒映画Economic Development Commission continues to accept applications to the fund and Malleau said additional businesses have offered to contribute if need be.
Dion suggested a rioters fund should be established where those regretful of their actions June 15 could donate anonymously.
For more information about the fund, see vancouvereconomic.com.
Twitter: @Cheryl_Rossi
