The 'Vancouver Riot Kiss' meme stems from a photograph captured by Richard Lam during the 2011 Stanley Cup riots in Vancouver, Canada. The image depicts a young couple, Scott Jones and Alexandra Thomas, lying on the pavement and sharing an intimate moment while police in riot gear stand in the background. While it initially looked like a romantic gesture amidst the violence, it was later revealed that Jones was actually comforting Thomas after she had been knocked down by police shields. The photo went viral globally, evolving into a meme used to represent finding peace or maintaining a relationship during turbulent times, often utilizing object labeling to contrast internal stability with external catastrophe.