Latest news with #streetfestival
CTV News
6 days ago
- CTV News
Lapu Lapu attack suspect has mental fitness hearing
Vancouver Watch A hearing is underway to determine if Adam Kai-Ji Lo is fit to stand trial on 11 murder charges stemming from his alleged attack on a Filipino street festival.
CBC
7 days ago
- CBC
Suspect in Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy appears in court to determine whether he's mentally fit to stand trial
Social Sharing The suspect in an alleged car-ramming attack at a Vancouver street festival in April appeared in court Wednesday to determine whether he's mentally fit to stand trial. Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, is accused of driving an SUV through a crowd of people at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival on April 26. Eleven people were killed and many more injured. Lo is facing 11 charges of second-degree murder. The incident prompted the B.C. government to commission a report that made sweeping recommendations for event safety in B.C., as well as an outpouring of support for the Filipino diaspora. On Wednesday, Lo appeared in court to determine whether he was fit to stand trial. The accused sat in the prisoner's box wearing a black long-sleeved sweatshirt and black pants. His hair was dishevelled as he sat with his hands clasped in his lap. The hearing began with Crown prosecutor Michaela Donnelly informing the court that a Supreme Court of Canada decision expected on Friday could change the legal standard used to determine whether an accused is fit to stand trial, which could have consequences for Lo's fitness trial. Despite this, the court decided to proceed, as witnesses are already lined up. The fitness trial will happen in two stages: facts and evidence this week, and argument on the law at a later date. Publication ban Many of the details surrounding Lo's Wednesday court appearance are subject to a court-ordered publication ban. The ban covers evidence and exhibits related to Wednesday's hearing. But a media consortium, a group of news outlets working together, is challenging the ban. Daniel Coles, the lawyer representing the consortium, which includes CBC News, said the media — and in turn the public — deserve to know the evidence for why Lo is or is not fit to stand trial. "If a judge determines that the accused is not fit to stand trial, people need to understand why. That's a pretty big decision," he said from the Vancouver Law Courts Wednesday morning. "And conversely, if the judge decides he can stand trial notwithstanding perhaps evidence of diseases of the mind ... the public needs to be satisfied that that's also fair." Coles said he believes the judge recognizes the public interest in the case. "I'm optimistic that there can be an outcome favourable to Canadians, British Columbians, victims, members of the impacted communities that will allow access and publication," he said. Crystal Laderas, public relations manager for Filipino B.C., said community members want answers. "There's still a lot of grief, anger and confusion as to what happened that day," she said while speaking to media outside the Law Courts. "Obviously, there's a lot of public interest in this case. I believe the community is looking for answers and at least to be able to follow these proceedings closely, but we do want to respect that the court process and this hearing is important as well."
Associated Press
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
L. Ron Hubbard Way Hosts Epic 4th of July Festival, Unites LA's Diverse Communities
LOS ANGELES, Calif., July 11, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — L. Ron Hubbard Way, home to the Church of Scientology Los Angeles, drew over 600 Angelenos this Independence Day for a memorable street festival, reinforcing its status as a central hub for community celebrations. From patriotic events to cultural fairs embracing the city's rich ethnic diversity, this iconic street fosters unity year-round. A PATRIOTIC CELEBRATION FOR ALL ON INDEPENDENCE DAY On July 4th, L. Ron Hubbard Way transformed into a vibrant display of red, white, and blue, offering family-friendly activities like water slides, a petting zoo, carnival games, a bouncy house, a dunk tank, donut and watermelon-eating contests, and pony rides. Attendees enjoyed food vendors, cotton candy, shaved ice, and all-you-can-eat popcorn, while face painting, live Americana music, roaming cartoon characters, and a captivating bubble show added to the festive atmosphere. A YEAR-ROUND DESTINATION FOR CULTURAL DIVERSITY Beyond Independence Day, L. Ron Hubbard Way hosts free events for holidays like Easter, Memorial Day, Halloween, Día de los Muertos, Christmas, and Eid al-Fitr, welcoming families of all backgrounds. Cultural fairs celebrate the heritage of groups including Latinos, Filipinos, Asians, African Americans, Armenians, and Bangladeshis, fostering mutual respect and shared traditions. A COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY BETTERMENT Located at the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and L. Ron Hubbard Way, the Church of Scientology Los Angeles serves as more than a venue for celebration. As an Ideal Scientology Organization, it supports spiritual growth and community collaboration through forums on humanitarian and social issues, making the street a cornerstone of hope in Los Angeles. DISCOVER MORE ABOUT L. RON HUBBARD WAY The significance of this location was featured in an episode of Inside Scientology during the 2018 launch of the Scientology Network by ecclesiastical leader Mr. David Miscavige. View it on DIRECTV Channel 320, DIRECTV STREAM, AT&T U-verse, or via Roku, Amazon Fire, and Apple TV platforms. For upcoming events, visit the Church of Scientology Los Angeles Eventbrite page. L. Ron Hubbard Way remains the heart of community connection in Los Angeles. Media Contact: Linda Weiland | [email protected] MULTIMEDIA: PHOTO link for media: Photo Caption: Community members don their red, white, and blue for the annual Independence Day celebration on L. Ron Hubbard Way, hosted by the Church of Scientology Los Angeles, featuring family-friendly activities and patriotic festivities. NEWS SOURCE: Church of Scientology International Keywords: Religion and Churches, L. Ron Hubbard Way, Church of Scientology Los Angeles, Angelenos this Independence Day, memorable street festival, LOS ANGELES, Calif. This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Church of Scientology International) who is solely responsibile for its accuracy, by Send2Press® Newswire. Information is believed accurate but not guaranteed. Story ID: S2P127652 APNF0325A To view the original version, visit: © 2025 Send2Press® Newswire, a press release distribution service, Calif., USA. RIGHTS GRANTED FOR REPRODUCTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY ANY LEGITIMATE MEDIA OUTLET - SUCH AS NEWSPAPER, BROADCAST OR TRADE PERIODICAL. MAY NOT BE USED ON ANY NON-MEDIA WEBSITE PROMOTING PR OR MARKETING SERVICES OR CONTENT DEVELOPMENT. Disclaimer: This press release content was not created by nor issued by the Associated Press (AP). Content below is unrelated to this news story.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Kensington Market's long-running Pedestrian Sundays paused amid 'vendor war'
People hoping to enjoy Kensington Market's first pedestrian-friendly street festival of the season were out of luck Sunday, after the local BIA put the event on ice. The Kensington Market Business Improvement Area (BIA) paused its popular Pedestrian Sunday for the month of May, citing safety concerns over illegal vendors and a rising "commercial tone" that shifted the festival away from its purpose. The vibrant street festival has been going on for two decades, monthly from May to October. With traffic not being allowed on most roads on the last Sunday of each month, business owners and pop-up vendors normally set up shop outside as pedestrians roam freely. What started as a tradition to celebrate Kensington's artistic culture turned into a "vendor war," according to Rafi Ghanaghounian, who owns Cafe Marallo. "Vendors [are] throwing each other's tables around, people sleeping over the night before to claim a spot, like it got really aggressive," he told CBC Toronto. An influx of vendors without permits created crowding and complicated logistics while leading to "unregulated food sales and unauthorized substances," the BIA said in a release announcing this month's cancellation. "These issues pose liability risks and create unfair competition for local levy-paying businesses that contribute year-round to the community and to [Pedestrian Sundays]," the release said. Outside vendors have regularly taken up space in front of businesses, said Polo Miranda, who owns the silver jewelry store Silver With Attitude. "It never stops," Miranda said. "They don't respect nothing, they don't respect boundaries, and they do whatever they want." The BIA, which did not respond to requests for comment from CBC Toronto over the weekend, said in its release that it will assess plans for the festival in the future following community surveys. The festival has become more gentrified as Kensington becomes a bigger tourist spot, festival co-co-ordinator Pouria Lofti previously told CBC Radio's Here and Now. LISTEN | Pouria Lofti talks about safety concerns that led to the pause: "It's lost a lot of its cultural and artistic aspects ... that sense of community involvement," he said. "Hopefully we'll get a better sense of how people feel," he said, speaking about the BIA's community surveys. "But I do get the sense that the attitude towards the festival has become more negative in the neighbourhood compared to several years ago." CBC Toronto reached out to some of the members listed on the BIA's website, but did not hear back before publication. "While we understand that festivals naturally evolve, we believe it's time to realign with the spirit that made [Pedestrian Sundays] special in the first place," the BIA release says. Joy Zubair, who owns the vintage store Boho Chachkies, says that while the cancellation caught her off-guard she hopes the BIA will get the community more involved in its reshaping. She said she typically lost sales during the festival because of how the street closures were structured and unauthorized vendors bringing unfair competition. "Even right now during the week, there are vendors just setting up and selling stuff on Temu on the side of the road, again, taking away from businesses that pay rent and pay taxes," she said, referencing the Chinese-owned shopping app where people often buy and resell cheap trinkets at a higher price. "People come at like five in the morning. They set up in front of your store. So you can't even use the front of your store to sell your own products or advertise," she said. Vanessa Fralich brought her toddler on his bike to the market on Sunday, not realizing the event had been scrapped. "I was hoping to go out on the streets and not worry about squeezing ourselves onto the sidewalk with everyone else," she said. Robert Quance, who also visited the market Sunday, said he hopes organizers figure out how to reshape the event, though he doubts they will figure it out in a month before the next festival date in June. "I think it's a real shame cause it brings in lots of tourists and locals as well. I come to it all the time, so I've spoken to a lot of people in the community and people are upset," he said.
CBC
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- CBC
Kensington Market's long-running Pedestrian Sundays paused amid 'vendor war'
People hoping to enjoy Kensington Market's first pedestrian-friendly street festival of the season were out of luck Sunday, after the local BIA put the event on ice. The Kensington Market Business Improvement Area (BIA) paused its popular Pedestrian Sunday for the month of May, citing safety concerns over illegal vendors and a rising "commercial tone" that shifted the festival away from its purpose. The vibrant street festival has been going on for two decades, monthly from May to October. With traffic not being allowed on most roads on the last Sunday of each month, business owners and pop-up vendors normally set up shop outside as pedestrians roam freely. What started as a tradition to celebrate Kensington's artistic culture turned into a "vendor war," according to Rafi Ghanaghounian, who owns Cafe Marallo. "Vendors [are] throwing each other's tables around, people sleeping over the night before to claim a spot, like it got really aggressive," he told CBC Toronto. An influx of vendors without permits created crowding and complicated logistics while leading to "unregulated food sales and unauthorized substances," the BIA said in a release announcing this month's cancellation. "These issues pose liability risks and create unfair competition for local levy-paying businesses that contribute year-round to the community and to [Pedestrian Sundays]," the release said. Outside vendors have regularly taken up space in front of businesses, said Polo Miranda, who owns the silver jewelry store Silver With Attitude. "It never stops," Miranda said. "They don't respect nothing, they don't respect boundaries, and they do whatever they want." The BIA, which did not respond to requests for comment from CBC Toronto over the weekend, said in its release that it will assess plans for the festival in the future following community surveys. The festival has become more gentrified as Kensington becomes a bigger tourist spot, festival co-co-ordinator Pouria Lofti previously told CBC Radio's Here and Now. "It's lost a lot of its cultural and artistic aspects ... that sense of community involvement," he said. "Hopefully we'll get a better sense of how people feel," he said, speaking about the BIA's community surveys. "But I do get the sense that the attitude towards the festival has become more negative in the neighbourhood compared to several years ago." CBC Toronto reached out to some of the members listed on the BIA's website, but did not hear back before publication. "While we understand that festivals naturally evolve, we believe it's time to realign with the spirit that made [Pedestrian Sundays] special in the first place," the BIA release says. Joy Zubair, who owns the vintage store Boho Chachkies, says that while the cancellation caught her off-guard she hopes the BIA will get the community more involved in its reshaping. She said she typically lost sales during the festival because of how the street closures were structured and unauthorized vendors bringing unfair competition. "Even right now during the week, there are vendors just setting up and selling stuff on Temu on the side of the road, again, taking away from businesses that pay rent and pay taxes," she said, referencing the Chinese-owned shopping app where people often buy and resell cheap trinkets at a higher price. "People come at like five in the morning. They set up in front of your store. So you can't even use the front of your store to sell your own products or advertise," she said. Visitors hope for a swift return Vanessa Fralich brought her toddler on his bike to the market on Sunday, not realizing the event had been scrapped. "I was hoping to go out on the streets and not worry about squeezing ourselves onto the sidewalk with everyone else," she said. Robert Quance, who also visited the market Sunday, said he hopes organizers figure out how to reshape the event, though he doubts they will figure it out in a month before the next festival date in June. "I think it's a real shame cause it brings in lots of tourists and locals as well. I come to it all the time, so I've spoken to a lot of people in the community and people are upset," he said.
