Rioters smash the glass at Future Shop in Vancouver June 15, 2011 after Vancouver Canucks lost to Boston Bruins in the Stanley Cup final.JOHN LEHMANN
Robert Mackay couldn't just stand by while rioters smashed windows and looted the Bay. He had to try to talk some sense into them.
He wasn't the only Good Samaritan who attempted to stop the mayhem that night. But, as was the case with the others, his pleas for calm didn't work. In fact, for his trouble, Mr. Mackay was swarmed by several men and knocked to the ground. He was punched, kicked and doused with pepper spray.
Just when the situation looked its most dangerous, two young men jumped in to help and he escaped with bruised ribs.
As he tried to stand up to the crowd, Mr. Mackay could see camera phones pointing at him.
"As I was walking with my girlfriend [after the incident]I said, 'I could be on the news.'"
He was right. Video of the assault was uploaded to YouTube and registered hundreds of thousands of views. Upon seeing the clip, Heritage Minister James Moore tweeted that "Canada needs more people with his character and courage."
Mr. Mackay had become a social media star.
"All I hope is that Vancouver becomes a better place because of that hardship," he said. "If anything positive comes from it, it'll just be a better city."
Not only did Mr. Mackay receive tickets to a Canucks game for his effort. In October, the team let him drop the puck during a ceremonial faceoff.
Vancouver police announced this week that charges have been recommended against a 19-year-old male allegedly involved in the assault.
Mr. Mackay said he was "pleased" to hear the news.