Wednesday April 30, 2025 | VICTORIA, BC [Posted at 5:47 pm | Updated 11:33 pm]
by Mary P Brooke | Island Social Trends
The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday May 2, 2025 as an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.
The day of remembrance and mourning is an opportunity for people in British Columbia to come together, grieve the loss of innocent lives and recognize the contributions the victims made to their communities and the province.
It is also a time to offer comfort to all of those impacted, including those who have lost loved ones, those recovering and those who witnessed the horrific scene, and to offer deep appreciation to community partners, the police, paramedics and those working at the hospitals for their dedicated service at a trying time.
A more formal remembrance will be held later in May.
Impact across province:
This tragedy has had profound impact on the Filipino community in B.C. and many others in Vancouver and throughout the province.
Hundreds of volunteers and community members are also stepping up to help at a trying time.
Book of Condolences:
There is an online book of condolences.
There is a Book of Condolences in the Hall of Honour at the BC Legislature (501 Belleville Street, Victoria), available April 28 through Friday May 2, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Supports available:
The following supports are available, as listed by the Premier’s Office this afternoon:
- Vancouver Police Dept Victim Services 604-717-3321 and also VictimLinkBC (tel/text): 1-800-564-0808 or email 211-victimlinkbc@uwbc.ca
- ICBC supports for inured persons plus witness and family members of the people killed, including counselling
- BC crisis line 310-6789 (no area code needed) for immediate support and connection to other supports
- Crime Victim Assistance Program – for victims, immediate family members and witnesses
- School district support for students, staff and families
- Supports for first responders and front-line health-care workers
- BC Emergency Health Service critical incident Management Stress team supports.
- Counselling for Vancouver Coast Health Employee and Family Assistance Program for VCH staff and medical staff
About the tragedy:
Eleven people were killed on Saturday evening April 26 in Vancouver when a driver charged his vehicle into a crowd on a side street at the outdoor Lapu Lapu Filipino cultural festival.
The deceased were ages five to 65 — seven women, two men, one non-binary, and one child.
At present there are 16 injured people remain in hospital including a 22-month-old boy; five critical and one in serious condition.
The Premier of BC has called for a fast inquiry by June so that community organizers can hear some recommendations for summer event safety. Yesterday he called the driver of the SUV who did the attack a murderer.
===== RELATED:
- Premier Eby wants answers by June from inquiry into Vancouver mass attack (April 30, 2025)
- ICBC insurance supports for people impacted by Lapu-Lapu vehicle crash tragedy (April 27, 2025)
- Vancouver crowd attack killed 11 people ages 5 to 65, looking to mental health solutions (April 27, 2025)
- Vancouver Police update on vehicle-impact crowd attack: 11 deaths, more expected (April 27, 2025)
- Driver into crowd at Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver causes deaths and injuries (April 26, 2025)
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