Latest news with #FilipinoHeritageMonth
CBC
an hour ago
- General
- CBC
Victims' families weren't consulted before city vote on Lapu-Lapu Day memorial event, group says
Vancouver city council has voted unanimously in favour of a motion to hold a memorial event this month for victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy that left 11 people dead and many others injured. And while the group that organized the festival, Filipino B.C., say they understand the city's intentions, they're concerned the families of victims were not consulted on the event prior to the decision. The motion, which was not originally part of council's agenda for Tuesday afternoon, was put forward by Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, who cited Filipino Heritage Month for the urgency. "It is fitting to host this event in the month of June, which is the intention, hence the time sensitivity around the request to council today," she said during the meeting. She also cited the need to finalize costs, including setting aside $50,000 for potential overruns and charging a "nominal ticket fee," with remaining funds to be donated to the Filipino community. Contracts, she said, would be with Canucks Sports & Entertainment, which she said "generously offered" Rogers Arena and staff for free, and TicketMaster, which she said would be waiving fees. Several councillors initially expressed reluctance, saying while they were not opposed to holding a memorial, they wanted to first consult with members of the communities who were impacted by the tragedy. They suggested deferring the decision to the following day. Kirby-Yung concluded by saying the city had engaged with community organizations about a memorial event, including with MLA Mable Elmore, who became B.C's first MLA of Filipino heritage in 2009 and has been an outspoken advocate for the community. "I have every confidence, as was referenced in the different community groups that were involved in the conversations, that this [event] is with the community, for the community and by the community, and the city is simply trying to support that," Kirby-Yung said. Later that evening, after the motion passed, Filipino B.C. said in a statement that they were "not notified about the urgent motion that Vancouver City Hall voted on." They said the city had recently informed them it would be hosting "a large scale event in June," and that while Filipino B.C. has been supporting families of victims with financial aid and other services, they have not consulted them about a memorial event specifically. "We are in regular contact with the City of Vancouver, but Filipino B.C. does not sit on the community steering for the memorial event," the statement reads. The organization is urging the city to centre the families of victims in its planning of the memorial. "There is space and need for both intimate, community-led events and a broader large-scale tribute to encourage wider collective healing. However, the timing, tone and format of such an event should be aligned with victims and the communities impacted," the statement reads.
Vancouver Sun
13 hours ago
- General
- Vancouver Sun
B.C. Filipino community group upset with Vancouver council's sudden Lapu Lapu Day memorial event decision
A sudden Vancouver city council decision to host a Lapu Lapu Day memorial event at Rogers Arena this month was made without input from impacted families, according to Filipino B.C. On Tuesday night, councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung (on behalf of Mayor Ken Sim who was absent) brought forward an urgent motion authorizing the city to sign an agreement with Canucks Entertainment Corp to use Rogers Arena — free of charge — for an event this month to remember the April 26 tragedy that left 11 people dead. No date has been set for the 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong' event, with Ticketmaster agreeing to waive its fees for tickets that will be sold at low cost. Start your day with a roundup of B.C.-focused news and opinion. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sunrise will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. Kirby-Yung told council that there had been discussions with Filipino B.C. around the event. However, following council's unanimous decision to support the event, Filipino B.C. spokesperson Crystal Laderas said that while they had been informed there would be a large scale event in June (which is also Filipino Heritage Month), no impacted families had yet been consulted. 'We were not notified about the urgent motion that Vancouver city hall voted on this afternoon,' Laderas said. 'In May, Filipino B.C. and other community groups were invited to a City of Vancouver-hosted roundtable to discuss what a potential memorial event could look like. During that meeting, we expressed that any event, public tribute or memorial should be done in close consultation with the families of the victims, and should be shaped and directed by the community. 'While we understand the city's desire to create space for collective mourning and healing, it is critical that this process centres the voices of the families and affected communities. 'We believe the City of Vancouver should prioritize emergency recovery funding. While we are supporting families by connecting them with financial aid, providing temporary accommodations and other services, we have not engaged with them about a memorial event. 'There is space and need for both intimate, community-led events and a broader large-scale tribute to encourage wider collective healing. However, the timing, tone and format of such an event should be aligned with victims and the communities impacted. We urge the City of Vancouver to remain accountable to that principle and to prioritize long-term recovery support as part of its commitment to those impacted.' Kai-ji Adam Lo, 30, was arrested on April 26 after a black SUV was driven through a crowd of people 15 minutes after the end of a daylong festival held by Vancouver's Filipino community to celebrate Lapu Lapu Day near 41st Avenue and Fraser Street in east Vancouver. dcarrigg@
CTV News
3 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Sombre start to Filipino Heritage Month in B.C. as festival attack's shadow lingers
A woman wipes tears during a memorial for the Filipino community's Lapu Lapu Day festival victims, in Vancouver, on Saturday, May 31, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ethan Cairns British Columbia is marking the start of this year's Filipino Heritage Month with a sombre tribute to the victims of April's deadly attack at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day Festival. Premier David Eby issued a statement saying this year's celebration of Filipino Heritage Month in June is happening 'alongside deep sorrow, under the backdrop of the tragic attack' that killed 11 people and shook the community to its core. Eby says the province continues to grieve, but the support shown by different communities 'coming together to heal' demonstrates how 'strength in unity' has enriched B.C.'s cultural fabric. In a separate statement, New Democrat legislative member Mable Elmore — who is of Filipino descent — says her community is marking the heritage month to 'honour the memories of those lost after the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.' Elmore says while the community remains in mourning, she is confident that people are healing and will emerge stronger from the tragedy. The suspect in the attack, Adam Kai-Ji Lo, appeared in court on Friday via video as part of the process to determine if he is fit to stand trial. He is tentatively set to appear in court next on June 6. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025. The Canadian Press
Toronto Star
3 days ago
- Toronto Star
Sombre start to Filipino Heritage Month in B.C. as festival attack's shadow lingers
British Columbia is marking the start of this year's Filipino Heritage Month with a sombre tribute to the victims of April's deadly attack at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day Festival. Premier David Eby issued a statement saying this year's celebration of Filipino Heritage Month in June is happening 'alongside deep sorrow, under the backdrop of the tragic attack' that killed 11 people and shook the community to its core.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Sombre start to Filipino Heritage Month in B.C. as festival attack's shadow lingers
British Columbia is marking the start of this year's Filipino Heritage Month with a sombre tribute to the victims of April's deadly attack at Vancouver's Lapu Lapu Day Festival. Premier David Eby issued a statement saying this year's celebration of Filipino Heritage Month in June is happening 'alongside deep sorrow, under the backdrop of the tragic attack' that killed 11 people and shook the community to its core. Eby says the province continues to grieve, but the support shown by different communities 'coming together to heal' demonstrates how 'strength in unity' has enriched B.C.'s cultural fabric. In a separate statement, New Democrat legislative member Mable Elmore — who is of Filipino descent — says her community is marking the heritage month to 'honour the memories of those lost after the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.' Elmore says while the community remains in mourning, she is confident that people are healing and will emerge stronger from the tragedy. The suspect in the attack, Adam Kai-Ji Lo, appeared in court on Friday via video as part of the process to determine if he is fit to stand trial. He is tentatively set to appear in court next on June 6. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 1, 2025.
