Latest news with #ItalianDay
Vancouver Sun
4 days ago
- Vancouver Sun
Vancouver police ramp up weekend presence to deter crime, provide 'assurance'
The Vancouver Police Department said it is boosting the number of officers in the city this weekend, including at the B.C. Lions kickoff game on Saturday and at Italian Day on Commercial Drive on Sunday. Police spokesman Sgt. Steve Addison acknowledged some people may be feeling anxious about public safety given Thursday night's car- ramming incident at the Pacific Coliseum during a Cirque du Soleil show and the vehicle attack at the Lapu Lapu Day festival in east Vancouver on April 26 that killed 11. But he reassured people that police will be out in full force this with an additional 300 officers deployed from Friday to Sunday. 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. 'We will have a high-visibility presence throughout the city at a variety of events, and we're doing this to provide comfort and assurance to people, to deter crime, and … to respond immediately if something happens,' he said. Police will be using new Archer barriers at the Lions' season opener at B.C. Place and at Italian Day on the Drive, which are expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the city. The Archer barriers replaces heavy vehicles like dump trucks used by VPD as barricades at large-scale events such as the Celebration of Light fireworks or the Taylor Swift concerts last year. The police department ordered 16 of the anti-ram barriers from U.S.-based Meridian Rapid Defense Group soon after the New Year's Day attack in New Orleans, where a 42-year-old man used a pickup truck to ram into a crowd on historic Bourbon Street, killing 15 people. The devices arrived last month. Each barrier weighs about 320 kilograms and they are linked with heavy steel cables specifically designed to stop unauthorized vehicles at roadways, construction sites and public events. The barriers 'can be deployed and moved around as needed,' said Addison. 'When they're set up, they're designed to prevent vehicle incursions into large crowds.' Road closures will be in effect around Robson and Beatty Streets downtown for the Lions' game and Commercial Drive from Venables to Broadway will be closed to vehicles for the Italian Day festival. There will also be a heightened police presence on beaches, which are expected to be busy with people enjoying the hot weather, and in Gastown, Yaletown and the Granville Street entertainment district. Addison said the 'seemingly random and unpredictable' nature of the recent ramming incidents can cause anxiety but police cannot 'cage the city.' 'Please know we are doing everything that we can, working with our partners, to mitigate risks and make this summer and these events as safe as possible,' he said, adding that people can call police if something seems suspicious or out of place, or if they feel unsafe. chchan@
Toronto Star
4 days ago
- Toronto Star
Bible group called 911 about man, later arrested in ramming of Vancouver arena
VANCOUVER - Vancouver police say the suspect in a vehicle ramming at the Pacific Coliseum Thursday night had been the subject of a 911 call earlier that day from a Bible study group. Sgt. Steve Addison says the man was reportedly acting erratically at the church, but he left before officers encountered him. Addison says the 30-year-old Vancouver man had no prior interactions with local authorities on either criminal or mental health grounds. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The man was detained after a BMW sedan crashed into the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver during a Cirque du Soleil show at around 8 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured in the incident, with Addison calling it a 'miracle' given the number of people inside and outside the arena at the time. Addison says the man is being held under the Mental Health Act and it's believed he was suffering a 'significant' crisis when the ramming happened. Police are not identifying him because he has not been criminally charged. The incident came 40 days after the Lapu Lapu Day Festival attack, also in East Vancouver, where an SUV plowed through a crowd and killed 11 while injuring scores of others. Addison said there was no evidence the latest ramming was linked to terrorism or copied the Lapu Lapu festival attack, but police understand that the public may be fearful given similarities between the two incidents. He said that is why police are ensuring safety at events this weekend' — including the BC Lions' season opener on Saturday and the Italian Day festival on Commercial Drive — by deploying more than 300 additional officers as well as vehicle barriers. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW The barriers were seen being installed on Commercial Drive on Friday ahead of the Italian cultural festival. 'We fully understand that as soon as this vehicle struck the Coliseum last night, the first thing that was going to be in people's mind was a flashback to what happened 40 days earlier at the Filipino Lapu Lapu festival,' Addison said. 'That's the natural reaction. 'If I have a message for people, it's please know that we're doing everything that we can, in our power, working with our partners to mitigate risks, to make this summer as safe as possible.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025.
Hamilton Spectator
4 days ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Bible group called 911 about man, later arrested in ramming of Vancouver arena
VANCOUVER - Vancouver police say the suspect in a vehicle ramming at the Pacific Coliseum Thursday night had been the subject of a 911 call earlier that day from a Bible study group. Sgt. Steve Addison says the man was reportedly acting erratically at the church, but he left before officers encountered him. Addison says the 30-year-old Vancouver man had no prior interactions with local authorities on either criminal or mental health grounds. The man was detained after a BMW sedan crashed into the Pacific Coliseum in East Vancouver during a Cirque du Soleil show at around 8 p.m. Thursday. No one was injured in the incident, with Addison calling it a 'miracle' given the number of people inside and outside the arena at the time. Addison says the man is being held under the Mental Health Act and it's believed he was suffering a 'significant' crisis when the ramming happened. Police are not identifying him because he has not been criminally charged. The incident came 40 days after the Lapu Lapu Day Festival attack, also in East Vancouver, where an SUV plowed through a crowd and killed 11 while injuring scores of others. Addison said there was no evidence the latest ramming was linked to terrorism or copied the Lapu Lapu festival attack, but police understand that the public may be fearful given similarities between the two incidents. He said that is why police are ensuring safety at events this weekend' — including the BC Lions' season opener on Saturday and the Italian Day festival on Commercial Drive — by deploying more than 300 additional officers as well as vehicle barriers. The barriers were seen being installed on Commercial Drive on Friday ahead of the Italian cultural festival. 'We fully understand that as soon as this vehicle struck the Coliseum last night, the first thing that was going to be in people's mind was a flashback to what happened 40 days earlier at the Filipino Lapu Lapu festival,' Addison said. 'That's the natural reaction. 'If I have a message for people, it's please know that we're doing everything that we can, in our power, working with our partners to mitigate risks, to make this summer as safe as possible.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 6, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
CTV News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Festivals abound this weekend in Metro Vancouver
The Vancouver skyline is seen from CTV News Vancouver's Chopper 9 in October 2018. (Pete Cline) The first full weekend of June brings no fewer than four free street festivals to check out in Metro Vancouver. From Italian Day on the Drive to Car Free Day in Newton, here's a look at what's happening across the region. BC Lions' Concert Kickoff Snoop Dogg headlines the BC Lions' annual Concert Kickoff this Saturday at BC Place. The legendary rapper is scheduled to take the stage at 5:45 p.m., and kickoff of the Lions' CFL opener against the Edmonton Elks is scheduled for 7 p.m. More than 50,000 tickets have been sold, leaving the team expecting a season-opening sellout for the second year in a row. Italian Day on the Drive Arguably the biggest and most established of the weekend's street festivals is Italian Day on the Drive, which will take over Commercial Drive between North Grandview Highway and Venables Street from noon to 8 p.m. Sunday. Vancouver's annual celebration of Italian food, heritage and culture features seven stages with live entertainment – not only music, but also a fashion show and multiple pasta-eating contests – spread along the 14-block street closure. More information, including a performance schedule and a map, can be found on the Italian Day website. Italian Day on the Drive Italian Day on the Drive 2024 drew crowds on Sunday, June 9. (CTV News/Jordan Jiang) West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest Before Vancouver celebrates its historic Little Italy on Sunday, West Vancouver will be hosting a multicultural celebration in Ambleside Park on Friday night and Saturday. Featuring cultural pavilions representing many of the diverse backgrounds that make up the West Vancouver community, along with live performances on multiple stages and food vendors serving flavours from around the world, West Vancouver Community Cultural Fest is intended to unify and celebrate the district's residents. The festival is open from 4 to 9:30 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday. Burnaby Heights Hats Off Day Burnaby Heights will celebrate its local community with a festival this weekend, too. Hats Off Day began in the early 1980s as a way for local businesses to say 'hats off' to the neighbourhood that supported them throughout the year. Over the decades, it has grown into an annual parade and street party that shuts down Hastings Street between Boundary Road and Gamma Avenue. This year's theme is 'Disco Fever!' The festival begins with a 'Family Fun Dash' at 9:30 a.m., followed by the parade at 10 a.m. and the street party from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Hats Off Day 2024 Hats Off Day 2024 is seen in this photo from the event's website ( / Lisa King / TwinLens Photography) (Twinlens Photography/TwinLens Photography) Car Free Day Newton This weekend also marks the start of Car Free Days of Summer, with a portion of 137 Street in Surrey's Newton neighbourhood closing to traffic for Car Free Day from noon to 8 p.m. The closure stretches from 72A Avenue to 74 Avenue, with three stages of live entertainment, mini golf, a climbing wall, bounce houses and more activities for all ages. Food trucks and an artisan market will also be set up for the festival. The full performance schedule can be found on the Car Free Day Surrey website. Doors Open Richmond A less centralized kind of celebration is happening in Richmond this weekend, as businesses and organizations around the city welcome visitors for the annual Doors Open Richmond event. Organized by Richmond Museum, the event brings together more than 50 partner sites – including art studios, national historic sites, farms and religious organizations – that highlight the diversity of the city. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More information about each participating location and its offerings can be found on the museum's website. Public Disco Block Party Public Disco – which hosts both free and ticketed dance parties in public spaces around Vancouver throughout the summer – is kicking off its 2025 season with a two-day block party on Granville Island. The free, all-ages event takes place from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday, with distinct 'musical journeys' planned for each day. In addition to DJ sets, the event will feature a food market, two bars and a kids zone. More information can be found on the Public Disco website. Public Disco Granville Island Last year's Public Disco event on Granville Island is shown in this photo from its website. ( Weekend craft and artisan markets Several special market events are also planned around Metro Vancouver this weekend, beyond the ones taking place as part of larger festivals or ongoing events. Here are four that may be of interest:
CBC
09-05-2025
- CBC
Public safety top of mind for summer festival organizers after Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy
Organizers of East Vancouver's Italian Day on the Drive have expressed confidence in the city police's ability to implement a suitable safety plan for this year's event. It follows the tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival last month. As CBC's Meera Bains reports, safety and security are the top priority for an event expected to attract 100,000 visitors.
