Democratic and Filipino organizations in Canada, and the Bayanihan Community Center held a Luksang Bayan (People’s Mourning) on April 28 to collectively pray and mourn for the victims of the heinous incident on April 27. At the same time, Migrante Canada declared the day as a day of mourning for Filipino communities in Canada and their supporters.

At around 8 p.m., as the Lapu-Lapu Day celebration in Vancouver was winding down, an individual deliberately rammed his SUV against participants in the celebration. Eleven people were killed while at least 20 were injured and are in critical condition. The ages of those who died range from 5 to 65 years old. An estimated 100,000 people attended the celebration.

Police immediately arrested the perpetrator, Vancouver resident Kai-Ji Adam Lo, who reportedly has a history of “mental health-related interactions” with authorities. They declared the incident as the “darkest day” in the city’s history. The perpetrator was charged with eight counts of murder.

In 2023, the government of British Columbia, Canada officially declared April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in recognition of the rich cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest migrant groups in the province. The official 2021 census of Canada tallies 172,915 Filipinos living in British Columbia, making up 3.46% of the population.

In Vancouver, they celebrate Lapu-Lapu Day in recognition of the heroism of Lapu-Lapu, who bravely fought and defeated Ferdinand Magellan’s forces in the Battle of Mactan. This celebration showcases the vibrant cultural heritage of Filipinos through parades, concerts, cultural performances, film screenings, stalls selling Filipino food and products, and basketball tournaments.

Migrante Canada called for a full and thorough investigation and swift justice. They also called on the Philippine embassy in Ottawa and the Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver to provide immediate and adequate assistance to their compatriots.

Filipino organizations in Canada, democratic Filipino organizations in Canada and the USA such as Anakbayan Canada, BAYAN Canada, BAYAN British Columbia, GABRIELA British Columbia, Malaya Canada, Malaya Movement USA, BAYAN USA, as well as individuals in the Philippines and abroad, expressed solidarity and condolences to the victims and their families in this tragedy.