Memorials held across Canada to honor victims of Vancouver festival attack
Members of the Filipino community and local residents, grieving in the wake of the deadly car-ramming attack at the Filipino festival in Vancouver, show their support for the victims and their families. Photo by Nestor Burgos
VANCOUVER – Support has poured in for the Filipino community here amid the grief and shock over Saturday’s car-ramming attack at the Lapu Lapu Day street festival that left at least 11 dead and many others seriously injured.
Teddy bears and small Philippine flags were tied to the fence at the John Oliver Secondary School on 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, in a poignant tribute to the victims and their families. A poster read: “We love you. We are here for you.”
On the ground, bouquets of flowers were neatly arranged. More flowers piled up on the sidewalk as the crowd swelled on Sunday prompting the police to open up a wider area for one of the spontaneous memorials for the victims.
Photo by Nestor Burgos
Many of the mourners offered whispered prayers and others lit candles in silence. Some were in tears, finding comfort in a loved one’s embrace.
About 600 people came to the makeshift memorial site just a few meters from the street where a black Audi SUV rammed into people who lined up for the food trucks and those on their way home as the Lapu Lapu Day festival started to wind down.
The fatalities and injured included children and the elderly, mostly from the Filipino community. The Vancouver Police Department said the death toll could still increase as 16 of those injured remain in critical condition in hospitals.
Mourners post notes of condolences and prayers at one of the memorials in Vancouver. Photo by Nestor Burgos
Police have filed eight counts of second-degree murder against the driver of the vehicle, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who was restrained and turned over to the police shortly after the attack. Police said Lo has a significant history of mental health-related interactions with law enforcers.
On Sunday, hundreds gathered at the Kensington Community Centre to offer flowers, prayers and songs, seeking comfort from family members, friends and other Vancouver residents as they grapple with the attack – the worst in recent memory.
Photo by Nestor Burgos
Vigils and memorials have been held across Canada since Monday, according to the Bagong Alyansang Makabayan Canada. Mourners have gathered at Mackenzie King Park in Montréal, Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Nathan Philip Square in Toronto, the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba in Winnipeg, the Dingle Park in Halifax and Calgary City Hall in Calgary.
“Our community is still trying to make sense of what has happened, but we are also strengthened by the overwhelming support of all the people,” said Jaela Villegas of the Filipino migrants group Migrante BC, which organized the vigil near the site of the attack.
Photo by Nestor Burgos
RJ Aquino, chair of Filipino BC, which organized the Lapu-Lapu Festival, said the Filipino community and Vancouver residents are facing an “incredibly difficult time.”
“Everyone is dealing with pain in their own time. It is important to take care of each other. We must stay strong to continue the work and help because there is still so much to do,” he said.
Offers of support for the victims and their families continue to pour in. Some supported fundraising campaigns and others offered counseling for those traumatized by the attacks. Various groups have opened up spaces for gatherings
The Vancouver Whitecaps Football Club displayed a Philippine flag before a match over the weekend to express solidarity with the community.
“Our hearts are heavy as we condemn the violent act that took place at the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver this past Saturday. We grieve the devastating loss of life and the profound impact this tragedy has had – especially on our friends, family and neighbours in the Filipino community,” Eva Respini and Sirish Rao, interim co-chief executive officers of the Vancouver Art Gallery, said in a statement.
A “Grief Library” is being set up to provide books on coping with loss and healing trauma.
Many Filipinos and Vancouver residents are struggling to cope with grief and trauma in the aftermath of the tragedy.
“I was shaking as the crowd grew and I was terrified that it might happen again. I keep seeing flashes of the images I saw, hearing the sounds over and over again and the smell of what I later realized was blood,” said Ryu Arcino, who witnessed the scene of carnage. “We heard multiple bangs and people screaming and crying.”
Tianna Doquiatan said the sound of bodies hitting the hood of the car lasted for about 10 seconds, followed by loud screams. Lisa Argenal, who had attended the festival with Arcino and Doquiatan, said she has not been sleeping well since witnessing the incident.
“We saw bodies underneath a food truck. We haven’t fully processed it and it was a very terrible thing to witness. These images keep coming up and it will take time for normalcy to come back,” Argenal said.
