The Canucks and Happiness: People want to be happy

Canucks fever. I'll admit, I am swept up in it and thrilled to be chanting "Go Canucks Go!" with the thousands of other fans dressed in blue on game days. I am totally and utterly addicted to the Canucks Fever and find myself venturing downtown to watch it with the mobs, even if I'm heading down alone. I find I can't help myself - I want to be in the thick of it. I want to share the excitement with everyone! I want to be there when history is made!

The City of Vancouver is doing a great job of creating a community space for fans to celebrate together. They've blocked off the streets, put up big screens with big speakers, allowed vendors to sell food in the 'canucks base camp' and they've even put up porta-potties.

On Friday, I headed downtown with my good friends Katy and Patrick to watch the game on Georgia Street on the big screen. The vibe was contagious! Everyone was in a good mood. The game hadn't even started yet and the crowd was buzzing with excitement and celebration. Even the cops had big grins on their faces. At one point, when we were standing in the crowd and a line of cops marched by, one happy fan saw a can of beer in the cop's hand (confiscated) and asked "You're selling beer?" to which everyone, including the line of cops, giggled. Even when a Boston Bruins fan walked by and the crowd boo'd - they did it with humour and smiles on their faces and the Bruins fan accepted the boos with a smile on his brave face. People were happy! Happy to be together, happy to come together for something great, happy to have a reason to celebrate.

During the game, the crowd was just itching for a reason to cheer and when the goal finally came, the cheer that erupted was epic! Strangers were hugging strangers, voices were going horse, trumpets were sounding, and huge smiles were exchanged. I was offered a celebratory drink from a stranger and to be hoisted up on the shoulders of another (although I declined both offers, I was impressed by their brazen offers).

When we won, the streets came alive! It was Olympic Fever all over again! I gave at least a hundred strangers high fives (including the happy cops who were on patrol). People were screaming at the top of their lungs with such passion. People were so happy!

It struck me: people have so much happiness inside that wants to get out, they just need an excuse to express it. Why hockey? Can we give strangers high fives when we witness the sun come out after a rainy day? Or when Spring's first flowers sproat? Or when we witness an act of simple kindness, like a seat given up on the bus for an elderly man? What is it about sports that rallies people together..that allows emotions to flow freely? Can we continue this vibe after the play offs?