September 5,2025
RED FM News Desk
The organizer of the Vancouver street festival where 11 people were killed in a vehicle-ramming attack last spring says the tragedy continues to affect the community and that more support is needed for those impacted.
Filipino BC stated that the second annual Lapu Lapu Day festival, which began as a celebration of cultural pride, ended in “unimaginable loss.” While the events of April 26 have been recognized, the group says “the delivery of tangible support and resources has been slow and inconsistent.”
The organization calls the attack a “social disaster,” noting that it did not trigger the usual emergency response systems reserved for environmental disasters. Nevertheless, the impacts have mirrored those of a disaster, including trauma, long-term care needs, and wide-ranging effects across the community.
The statement comes following the release of the final report from a police and city-led review of public safety at outdoor events prompted by the attack. Filipino BC expressed gratitude for the review, which confirmed that their festival had followed all required safety procedures. The report included eight recommendations to improve public safety, which the group said it hopes will be implemented quickly.
Filipino BC noted that families affected by the attack are still grieving, and some survivors remain in hospital or undergoing rehabilitation. Much of the community response has been driven by local groups and supported through the Kapwa Strong Fund—a partnership with the United Way—as well as contributions from community members and corporate donors.
“Communities stepped in out of necessity, coordinating emergency and recovery programs, connecting people to trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care, and addressing gaps in the system by providing longer-term resources and social services,” the statement said. “While this support has been critical, it is not sustainable.”
The group’s statement, issued Friday, urges all levels of government to strengthen their response, highlighting that the attack occurred in a neighborhood Filipino BC describes as “chronically underfunded and predominantly racialized.”
Mayor Ken Sim called the attack the “darkest day in the history of Vancouver” during a Thursday news conference. He emphasized that no city can eliminate all public safety risks and it is not feasible to protect every one of the thousands of events held each year. Instead, Sim said he is “begging” the provincial government to increase support for people facing mental health challenges, which he identified as the “root cause” of many public safety issues in the city.
Loading ...
