INNISFAIL – Innisfail's 100-member Filipino community has vowed to find a way to support victims from last weekend’s horrendous tragedy in Vancouver that claimed the lives of at least 11 people and injured dozens more.
Grace Gresos, president of Phil-Can Neighbourhood Association, said while members of her local group do not know any citizens from Vancouver’s Filipino community there is still “shock” and profound sadness within her association.
“We are still talking about how we could help. We have to reach out to them for any help we can do for them,” said Gresos, “We’re having a meeting next week and we will see how we can help them in any way.
“It is very sad for us. It is a big shock for us all.”
The Vancouver tragedy occurred shortly after 8 p.m. during Lapu-Lapu Day, a street festival in south Vancouver to honour Lapu-Lapu, a 16th century Indigenous leader of the Philippines famed for his resistance against Spanish colonization.
Organizers of this year’s annual festival estimated that the festival attracted about 100,000 people.
As the festival was winding down a black SUV was seen slamming into a crowd.
"There were hundreds of festival-goers still on the street and multiple people were struck by the vehicle," said Steve Rai, interim Vancouver police chief, to the media on the weekend.
Vancouver resident Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, was arrested and charged Sunday morning with eight counts of second-degree murder.
Lo remains in custody.
