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CTV News
5 days ago
- Health
- CTV News
Memorial mass in Vancouver to mark 40 days since Lapu Lapu tragedy
People gather for a candlelight march during a vigil on the street where a vehicle-ramming attack occurred at the Filipino community's Lapu Lapu Day festival last week, on a provincial day of mourning for the victims, in Vancouver, B.C., Friday, May 2, 2025. (Darryl Dyck / The Canadian Press) VANCOUVER — Members of Vancouver's Filipino community and others will honour and pray for victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack at a memorial mass today, 40 days after the tragedy that left 11 people dead. The date is significant in Filipino Catholic tradition as the end of a mourning period, and Rev. Francis Galvan says he expects the mass at St. Andrew's Parish church in East Vancouver at 6 p.m. to be crowded. Galvan, who is of Filipino heritage and is the pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in Delta, B.C., says it's important for the healing process to be shared. He also says it's important to show solidarity with victims' families by hearing their stories and mourning together. Vancouver police say seven people injured in the attack remain in hospital as of Tuesday afternoon, with six in stable condition and one in serious condition. In a statement issued Thursday morning, advocacy group Filipino BC says the 40th day 'holds deep spiritual meaning.' 'It is believed that the soul remains close to us during these 40 days, before finding peace and fully departing from the physical world.' The statement lists names and ages of all 11 people who died in the attack, who ranged in age from five to 60. 'This is not closure,' Filipino BC said of the 40th day. 'Healing does not follow a schedule. But today offers a moment to pause. To gather. To feel. And to remind ourselves that healing, while difficult, is possible when we do it together.' RJ Aquino, who chairs Filipino BC, said the aftermath of the April 26 attack had cast a shadow over Filipino Heritage Month, which is marked every June. He said some people were still having a difficult time crossing the street or even leaving their homes after the attack, but being with other members of the community is a way to encourage collective healing. The City of Vancouver has separately announced plans for a large-scale memorial event later this month to honour the victims. The 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong,' benefit concert will be held at Rogers Arena, although the exact date has not been set. Attack suspect Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces eight counts of second-degree murder, and Vancouver police have said more charges are expected. He is due back in court on Friday, as preparations to determine if he's fit to stand trial continue. This report by Nono Shen and Brieanna Charlebois of The Canadian Press was first published June. 5, 2025.
CTV News
22-05-2025
- CTV News
‘Nothing can explain the loss': Memorial mass held for 3 Toronto kids killed in suspected impaired driving crash
Jenelle Galve (right) speaks to CTV Toronto following the memorial mass for her nephews and niece (left) who were killed in a suspected impaired driving crash. The three siblings killed in a suspected impaired driving crash in Etobicoke were remembered at a memorial mass on Thursday morning. Family members, as well as students and teachers at the Canadian Martyrs Catholic School, where the three children attended, gathered at the adjacent church for the mass. 'The service was beautiful,' their aunt Jenelle Galve told CTV News Toronto following the mass. 'Those kids deserved to have a beautiful service.' She thanked the school staff for organizing the mass. 'We all came as a collective because we believe that these kids … they deserve justice, and us coming together as a community shows that we are strong enough to deal with what comes next,' an emotional Galve said. The three children, a 15-year-old boy, his 13-year-old brother and his six-year-old sister, cannot be identified due to a court-ordered publication ban. Galve shared that the youngest loved doing cartwheels during recess and 'made all the kids happy.' The 13-year-old was remembered as being 'very competitive' in basketball, while the eldest was known as a leader, she added. Galve said the support they've received is helping the family heal. 'We are grieving. We're all grieving together for the loss of the children. Nothing can explain the loss that we have,' she said. Galve shared that the children's mother and their 10-year-old sibling remain in the hospital recovering. She previously told CTV News that the family, along with the mother's 40-year-old boyfriend, was coming home from watching fireworks in Milton when the crash occurred early Sunday morning. Police said a 19-year-old man driving a Dodge Caravan was allegedly travelling at a high rate of speed as he exited Highway 401 on Renforth Drive and lost control, colliding with the family's Chrysler Pacifica, which was stopped at a red light. Three children killed in Etobicoke crash identified; 19-year-old faces multiple charges The driver, who is from Georgetown, was arrested and charged with a dozen offences, including impaired driving and dangerous driving. Near the scene, flowers have been placed at a growing memorial. 'It's one of the worst tragedies,' said retired teacher Tammi Upshaw, who attended Thursday's mass. She knew the 15-year-old boy. 'It's just so sad … to lose three of your children at one time. Very sad.' With files from CTV Toronto's Mike Walker
