By now, it seems everyone in Vancouver has heard about the International Yoga Day event that will shut down the Burrard Bridge on the morning of June 21.
Many don’t realize there is a second yogathon in Vancouver that day. The other will take place at the Plaza of Nations and has been in the works for months.
“Actually I received an email from the Consular General’s office, this was in the early part of March,” said Nirmala Raniga, founder of the Chopra Addiction and Wellness Centre.
Raniga and the Indian consulate knew nothing about the other International Yoga Day event until they tried to request space at Robson Square, which is run by the provincial government.
“We put in an application but we did not really receive an answer,” said Raniga. “A week into it, we were told the space was no longer available.”
That’s when they were told the province was supporting a competing yoga event, which, as Premier Christy Clark announced on Friday, will shut down the Burrard Bridge for seven hours on Father’s Day and National Aboriginal Day.
“I think it’s absolutely ridiculous,” said NDP Justice Critic Mike Farnworth. “Talk about a case of misplaced priorities.”
According to the press release, the only financial support for the Burrard Bridge event is $10,000 coming from AltaGas. The costs for policing and traffic control could be up to $150,000. So who’s getting stuck with the bill?
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“On a day when parents are finding out that the government wants up to 19 school closed in Vancouver. At the same time out in Surrey where you’ve had gun violence and parents are concerned about funding for anti-gang and violence programs, the government wants to waste $150,000 on this event,” said Farnworth.
Critics wonder why the event can’t be held elsewhere without the huge costs. Some have suggested Point Grey Road, which is already closed to most traffic and close to the home of Lululemon founder Chip Wilson.
As for Raniga, she is taking a yogi’s approach, hoping that everyone finds their bliss no matter where they practise yoga that day.
“I really encourage people to kind of look at it the other way…how can we benefit from what is being put together on the bridge as well?”
-with files from Elaine Yong
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