Filipino BC Calls on All Levels of Government to Provide Urgent Support for Victims and Families Impacted by April 26 Tragedy Ahead of 2026 Budgets

OCTOBER 3, 2025

Filipino BC is calling on federal, provincial, and municipal governments to urgently commit funding and resources in their 2026 budgets to support victims and families impacted by the tragic events that occurred following the Lapu Lapu Day Festival. 

Despite the severity of the situation, no level of government has yet committed to dedicated funding for programs and services that directly aid those most affected. Filipino BC reports that many victims and families continue to struggle due to the bureaucratic complexity of programs such as ICBC, Crime Victim Assistance Program (CVAP), and EI. These systems are often daunting and difficult to navigate, leaving individuals under-resourced and in some cases not even receiving their full entitlement.

“The reality on the ground is heartbreaking,” said Kristina Corpin-Moser, Executive Director of Filipino BC. “Families are in desperate situations—struggling to pay rent, put food on the table, and access culturally appropriate mental health supports. While community-driven efforts like the United Way BC Kapwa Strong Fund have provided critical relief and supported culturally relevant programs, governments have an obligation to step up. Our community should not be forced to turn its grief into proposals just to be heard.”

The United Way BC Kapwa Strong Fund successfully raised $2 million, funding over 40 charities and non-profits that provided critical support—from financial aid and housing necessities to culturally relevant mental health programs and healing initiatives. These efforts have been vital, offering immediate relief for victims and families, while also extending support to hundreds of community members who are also impacted: volunteers, community members, and bystanders who stepped in before first responders arrived. Many of these individuals do not qualify for CVAP, EI, or other government programs, yet continue to carry lasting trauma. Filipino BC stresses that while the Kapwa Strong Fund is essential, it cannot replace the core responsibility of governments to ensure people’s basic needs—such as housing security, food access, and health care—are met.

At the same time, many victims lack strong local support systems. Families have had to bring caregivers and relatives from abroad to help, often at significant financial and emotional cost. For immigrant communities, barriers such as stigma, language, and mistrust of government systems mean they are less likely to reach out for formal support—even when those supports exist. In practice, this has meant Filipino BC has become the primary point of support for many, stepping in where federal, provincial and municipal programs have fallen short. Filipino BC stresses that governments must both bridge out from the community into ministries and public systems and provide sustainable funding to organizations like Filipino BC and other non-profits, so critical care and culturally relevant programs can continue.

Filipino BC also highlights that when families are dealing with the grief of losing a loved one or caring for someone with catastrophic injuries, the last thing they should face is the additional burden of complicated, lengthy applications and bureaucratic hurdles. These processes only compound suffering at a time when urgent, straightforward support is required.

Filipino BC emphasizes that its role, and that of other community organizations, should be secondary and tertiary support—helping to fill gaps and provide culturally specific assistance. Governments, however, must take the lead. Filipino BC urges officials to act in true partnership with communities, rather than expecting them to carry the primary responsibility of response and recovery.

“If politicians can show up for photo opportunities, light candles, and offer words of condolence, then they also have a moral obligation to follow through with real action. Communities deserve more than symbolic gestures. They deserve sustained, tangible support,” said Corpin-Moser.

On June 4, 2025, Vancouver City Council passed an urgent motion calling for the City to “prioritize long-term recovery support as part of its commitment to those affected by the tragic events of April 26, 2025, apropos of any City-sanctioned memorial events, and ensure opportunities for intimate, community-led events.” Yet to date, there has been no announcement or consultation with Filipino BC regarding our work on the ground with victims and families, or how the City intends to fulfill this motion in partnership with our community.

Filipino BC further notes that many of the existing systems and services—including ICBC, EI and the Vancouver Police Department (VPD) Victim Services Unit—had longstanding complaints even before April 26, and the events following the Lapu Lapu Day Festival have only magnified these weaknesses.

Filipino BC urges governments at all levels to commit immediate funding in their 2026 budgets to provide sustainable, accessible, and culturally relevant supports for those impacted by the April 26 tragedy.