Event organizers of Vancouver Chinatown Festival say security is their top priority
Joey Kwan, executive director of the Vancouver Chinatown BIA, says enhanced safety measures have been in place as the 23rd festival is underway, drawing hundreds of people to enjoy the musical performances, marching band and children's theatre.
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Toronto Sun
6 days ago
- Toronto Sun
Steel barriers to protect Vancouver fireworks crowds, police say
Published Jul 15, 2025 • 1 minute read Friday was declared a provincial day of remembrance and mourning for victims of the Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy. People continue to leave flowers and pay their condolences at several memorials along Fraser Street in Vancouver. Photo by Jason Payne / Postmedia Network VANCOUVER — Vancouver police say the annual Celebration of Light fireworks competition that begins Saturday will be protected by steel barriers to prevent vehicle incursions in the most crowded areas. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account The competition on English Bay is expected to involve the city's biggest public gatherings since the deadly vehicle attack on the Lapu Lapu festival in April, and Sgt. Steve Addison says protections will include 700-pound 'archer barriers.' Addison says the barriers on Denman St. and Beach Ave. will replace heavy vehicles that are traditionally used to prevent vehicles entering restricted areas and to protect crowds. He says concrete blocks will also be installed at all access points on Denman St. from Robson to Davie Sts. Addison told a briefing on Tuesday that police will also be manning 'strategic locations' on the three fireworks nights to make sure that people in vehicles are residents of the area. The competition continues on July 23 and 26, and while the event traditionally involves international teams, organizers say it will be an all-Canadian event this year. RECOMMENDED VIDEO NFL Editorial Cartoons Toronto & GTA Toronto & GTA Columnists
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Winnipeg Free Press
Steel barriers to protect Vancouver fireworks crowds, police say
VANCOUVER – Vancouver police say the annual Celebration of Light fireworks competition that begins Saturday will be protected by steel barriers to prevent vehicle incursions in the most crowded areas. The competition on English Bay is expected to involve the city's biggest public gatherings since the deadly vehicle attack on the Lapu Lapu festival in April, and Sgt. Steve Addison says protections will include 700-pound 'archer barriers.' Addison says the barriers on Denman Street and Beach Avenue will replace heavy vehicles that are traditionally used to prevent vehicles entering restricted areas and to protect crowds. He says concrete blocks will also be installed at all access points on Denman Street from Robson to Davie streets. Addison told a briefing on Tuesday that police will also be manning 'strategic locations' on the three fireworks nights to make sure that people in vehicles are residents of the area. The competition continues on July 23 and 26, and while the event traditionally involves international teams, organizers say it will be an all-Canadian event this year. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 15, 2025.
CTV News
13-07-2025
- CTV News
Event organizers of Vancouver Chinatown Festival say security is their top priority
A Vancouver Police officer stands on a street leading to the site where a car drove through a crowd at a Lapu Lapu festival killing multiple people in Vancouver, Monday April 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Rich Lam VANCOUVER — Organizers of the Vancouver Chinatown Festival say security is their top priority in the wake of the Lapu Lapu festival tragedy that killed 11 and injured dozens more in April. Joey Kwan, executive director of the Vancouver Chinatown BIA, says enhanced safety measures have been in place as the 23rd festival is underway, drawing hundreds of people to enjoy the musical performances, marching band and children's theatre. She says festival goers can expect to see heavy police presence throughout Vancouver's Chinatown and officers will station six security checkpoints. Blue fences have also been set up at the scene to block vehicles from entering. Kwan says something unexpected may always arise, but event organizers and volunteers are ready to 'deal with the unexpected.' The tragedies of the Lapu Lapu festival are still haunting people, and Vancouver resident Darcy Shoults says seeing tons of police presence at the event scene makes him feel 'quite safe.' Shoults says two years ago he attended the Light Up Chinatown Festival, where a triple stabbing look place and left him devastated. Blair Donnelly was on a day pass from a psychiatric hospital when he stabbed three people in Vancouver's Chinatown in September 2023. Shoults says these attacks do happen, but we can't let them keep getting in the way of stopping us from coming together to show support and celebrate. This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 12, 2025.
