Community Update | May 11, 2025

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. The United Way BC team will continue to review grant applications on a rolling basis to ensure organizations have the funding they need to sustain crisis response programs that serve the community. 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

The Archdiocese of Vancouver is also accepting grant applications for individuals and families to cover costs, including:

• Mental health and counselling

• Medical expenses

• Food security

• Funeral/burial expenses at Gardens of Gethsemane

The temporary Resilience Centre at Killarney Secondary School reopens on Tuesday, May 13, from 5 to 8 PM. The Centre is a place to rest, enjoy some comfort food and gather with family and community members. We welcome everyone who has been affected by the tragic events of April 26, 2025, to visit the Centre. 

Visitors may also choose to access the services of counsellors, social workers and other emotional support and crisis response staff from: 

• Provincial Psychosocial Services

• Archdiocese of Vancouver

• Salvation Army

• Canadian Red Cross 

• St. John’s Ambulance BC & Yukon therapy dogs 

We gently remind everyone visiting the temporary memorials around John Oliver Secondary School, to do so with care and respect. For many, this site is a place of peace, prayer, and personal reflection, and it’s important that it remains a safe and welcoming space for all. The City of Vancouver has kindly posted signs in the area to help ensure the space remains accessible and respectful for everyone. Please consider the following:

• Share the space thoughtfully with others, creating room for everyone who wishes to be there.

• Keep sidewalks and streets clear so that others can pass through safely.

• Avoid leaving larger items behind, so the space remains open and accessible.

• If you’ve lit candles or have open flames, please extinguish them and remove any fire hazards when you leave.

Thank you for your understanding and for helping maintain a peaceful environment for all who come to this memorial. Your kindness and consideration are deeply appreciated.

We also kindly ask that you be mindful and respectful of the residents and neighbours who live in the area. While the temporary memorials are a meaningful place for grief, remembrance, and community gathering, it is also home to many. Please help us honour both the purpose of this space and the people who live nearby by keeping noise to a minimum, disposing of waste properly, and treating the surroundings with care.

Mother’s Day this year carries a unique weight, particularly for those impacted by the tragic events that occurred on April 26, 2025. Today, we honour the mothers we’ve lost, the mothers who are grieving, and those who carry the weight of caring for others while navigating their own pain. We recognize that today may be difficult for those processing fresh grief, ongoing uncertainty, or the absence of loved ones. Whether you’re lighting a candle, cooking a family dish, or simply taking a quiet moment, know that your grief is valid and you are not alone.

To our mothers, grandmothers, and mother figures, here and gone, we thank you for your strength, your love, and your sacrifices. May we hold space for one another today with tenderness and care. If you or someone you know is struggling today, we encourage reaching out to a trusted friend, community group, or mental health support service. Community care is always within reach.

Restoring our community’s well-being will take time, but through support and collective efforts, we can honour the loved ones we’ve lost, lean on each other to heal, rebuild and become stronger.