Vancouver is often referred to as “unfriendly,” but the response of its community in the wake of its largest mass-casualty event last weekend has revealed immense generosity and collective mourning in the face of tragedy.
Kai-ji Adam Lo is facing multiple murder charges in connection to an alleged attack at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu festival that killed at least eleven victims on Saturday evening. He had just been released by a mental health team according to new details released by Vancouver Coastal Health.
According to an emailed statement, sent out on Tuesday, he was only recently released from the care of a mental health team before he allegedly drove an SUV through a crowd of festival-goers in Vancouver on Saturday evening, resulting in multiple fatalities.
It is the largest single mass casualty event in Vancouver’s history.
“The alleged driver of the vehicle was under the care of a mental health team and on extended leave in accordance with the Mental Health Act,” a spokesperson wrote in the email.
“Extended leave is intended to help clients maintain their treatment plans while transitioning back to the community for ongoing support.”
Eleven people have been confirmed dead and dozens more injured as the Filipino block party in South Vancouver was winding down on Saturday night.
While much has been said of the alleged perpetrator of the attack, less has been said of the nearly dozen victims who tragically lost their lives on Saturday.
Of the ten people who remain in hospital, seven are in critical condition and three are in serious condition. One of the hospitalized victims is a 22-month-old boy and all of the others are adults.
The 11 people killed ranged in age from five to 65.
Vancouver resident Alejandro Samper confirmed through a GoFundMe page that he lost his mother, Glitza Maria Caicedo, his father, Daniel Samper, and sister, Glitza Daniela Samper, in the attack.
The GoFundMe campaign has already raised more than $140,000 as of Wednesday morning.
Jen Darbellay, another victim of the tragedy, leaves behind a husband and two children and is being called a “one-of-a-kind” person—”an incredibly thoughtful, warm, caring, smart, stylish and artistic woman. A gifted painter, a selfless mother, and a loving wife.”
A GoFundMe set up by her grieving husband’s close business partner has raised over $120,000 in donations as of publication.
Jendhel May Sico also perished on Saturday evening. She is a young woman being remembered by family and friends as a “beautiful soul” who “lived life to the fullest.”
“She always had a smile on her face and everyone that knows her would agree that she brought positivity to everyone she met,” her sister Maydhel Ann Sico said in another GoFundMe page, which is raising funds for her wake and funeral.
That GoFundMe page has already raised over $110,000.
Vicky Bjarnason had attended the festival with her 27-year-old son Helgi and his friend. She made the trip from the Philippines to visit her two sons in Vancouver.
The family had just celebrated Helgi’s birthday the night before tragedy struck.
Heigl himself had been struck by the SUV and he remains hospitalized recovering from a broken leg.
“Helgi was holding his mother’s hand and attempted to pull her away from the car, but unfortunately she was ripped away from him and tragically killed,” reads a GoFundMe page set-up for returning Vicky back to the Philippines for “a proper memorial service.”
That GoFundMe page has already far surpassed its fundraiser goal of $50,000 as of Wednesday morning.
A teacher-counsellor who worked at Fraser River Middle School and New Westminster Secondary School is being mourned as a deeply respected member of the local education community.
New Westminster Schools has confirmed Kira Salim was among the victims of the April 26 tragedy.
Salim, who’d moved to Canada from Brazil, left behind her partner, Kim, a dog, and five cats.
As of Wednesday, her GoFundMe campaign is approaching its fundraising goal as well.
An entire family including husband Richard Le, 47, his wife Linh Hoang, 30, and their five-year-old daughter Katie Le were all killed together on Saturday evening.
Katie was one of the youngest victims of the tragedy. Her sixteen-year-old brother was supposed to join them on Saturday night but chose to stay home to catch-up on schoolwork instead.
Their GoFundMe fundraiser has already amassed a staggering $500,000 in donations.
A woman named Rizza was another victim amongst thousands of attendees at the Lapu Lapu Day block party.
The woman’s cousin, Shelby Anne Marie Pacumio, said the family is trying to navigate an incredibly painful and heartbreaking time.
“Rizza was one of the lives taken far too soon during the tragic incident,” Pacumio said on a GoFundMe page. “The shock and sorrow are still unimaginable, it feels like a terrible dream we can’t wake up from.”
The organizer of that GoFundMe page has already disabled new donations after having raised over $60,000 for funeral and other expenses.