The Kapwa Centre for Community Resilience opened in South Vancouver, welcoming 80 guests to its new location at Christ City Church. 

As families and community members continue to grieve and visit the memorial around John Oliver Secondary School, we’d like to gently remind the public that we are taking a victim-centred approach to the upkeep of the memorial.

A case manager from the Canadian Red Cross joined the Filipino BC team today to provide direct support for victims and families. They were able to speak with two families and will follow-up with them regularly to support their ongoing needs.

Today, we met with Consul Generals from Latin America, as well as with the organization Latincouver to share information about what resources are available to them, our crisis response and the joint task force we’ve convened to support the needs of victims, their families and the broader community that’s been affected by the tragic events of April 26, 2025. 

The team is making sure to pivot based on the community’s evolving needs, whether that means emotional support, access to emergency resources, or helping families navigate longer-term recovery.

About $140,000 in grants from the KAPWA STRONG Fund will be distributed this week via e-transfer in order to quickly deliver funding to nonprofits, non-registered charities and community groups supporting people affected by the tragic events that occurred following the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.

We would like to say thank you to Lele and Allan Chan, who hosted the Filipino BC team at Tahanan Studio. Amidst the heartbreak and around-the-clock crisis response, it’s easy to forget to take care of your mind and body. They reminded us of the importance of gathering to rest, have dinner and share laughs with friends.

The Resilience Centre welcomed over 70 individuals, families and groups of friends looking for a place to gather, reflect, and reconnect. It offered a calm space where community members could share a meal, check in with one another, and find small moments of comfort in being together.

We honour the lives lost in the recent tragedy and hold their families close in our thoughts. May their memory live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved them.

We have always shown up for one another, whether that be for our families, our friends or our neighbours across communities.  In times of hardship, when systems have failed us, it’s been our shared experiences, resilience and care that have carried us through.

We strongly encourage groups to apply for up to $25,000 in grants for the KAPWA STRONG Fund. Eligible initiatives include:

• Immediate to mid-term recovery provision, and strategic ongoing support for those impacted by this emergency

• Healing supports as well as basic needs

• Mental health and counselling support

• Opportunities for community members to grieve

• Community-led events

In Tagalog, we say, magpahinga, which means to rest. And the Resilience Centre is made for people to do just that. When it reopens tomorrow, Tuesday, May 6, from 5 to 8 PM, anyone who has been affected by the tragedy can gather for a meal, connect with other community members, learn about resources and rest.

Filipino BC is now covering the costs of hotel accommodations for the family of one victim who was affected by the tragic events that occurred on April 26, 2025.

A beloved community member was visited in the hospital today by several members of the Filipino BC team, and we’re happy to see that she was in good spirits.

May 2, 2025 – Provincial Day of Remembrance and Mourning for victims of tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.

A temporary Resilience Centre has opened at Killarney Secondary School to support community members during this incredibly difficult time.

Filipino BC is opening a temporary Resilience Centre to support the community following the tragic incident that took place at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.

Our community is grieving, but we’re also organizing. We are working urgently to secure a physical space where people can access wellness supports and share what they need to cope and heal.

Update 1: Lapu Lapu Day Volunteer Mental Health Debrief Session

We are committed to supporting the Filipino community and our team of volunteers in the wake of the unprecedented tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival.