Community Update l Wednesday, May 28, 2025
Filipino BC and the Archdiocese of Vancouver will be marking 40 Days of Mourning on Thursday, June 5 at 6 p.m. at St. Andrew’s Parish in South Vancouver. In Filipino Catholicism, it is believed that the souls of loved ones wander the earth for 40 days, and on the 40th day, they transition into the afterlife. We expect a large number of people to attend the mass, and visit the temporary memorial which has now been consolidated to 43rd Avenue next to John Oliver Secondary School.
We’re also encouraging people visiting the memorial to refrain from lighting candles, extinguishing their candles before they leave or using flameless candles due to the increased risk of fires now that temperatures are rising.
A new Filipino-speaking caseworker will start next week to help support individuals affected by the tragedy as they begin their long journey of healing and recovery. We’re also excited to welcome a second Spanish-speaking caseworker to the team soon. These roles were made possible thanks to the generous support of Jewish Family Services and the Jewish Federation of Greater Vancouver, two of the many organizations involved in Filipino BC’s Crisis Response Joint Task Force. These partnerships have allowed us to quickly bring on new team members and share resources to better support the affected communities.
We’re also welcoming a new Resource Coordinator to the team, who will help with systems navigation, information, and referral services for the community. Stay tuned for more details coming soon.
Along with the work of this task force, we’ve also convened a Mental Health Working Group with a number of key stakeholders and government partners to address the immediate and emerging needs of those affected. The pain and trauma of this event may still be unrecognizable for many, and we urge community members to reach out for support. One of the easiest ways to connect with services is to call or text 211 for free, confidential support. This service can also connect people with counselling and mental health support that has emerged through the KAPWA STRONG Fund, which has provided about $250,000 worth of grants to nonprofits and community groups responding to this crisis. Organizations and charities that have received the KAPWA STRONG Fund thus far can be found listed on the United Way BC website under FAQ.
These grants would not be possible without the support of the public. We’d like to thank Caren McSherry of Gourmet Warehouse for raising $28,000 so far from its fundraising event on Monday. The event also included chefs from across the Vancouver culinary community, including Angus An (Maenam, Fat Mao Noodles), Ned Bell (Ocean Wise Seafood), Christophe Bonzon (Chez Christophe), Andrea Carlson (Burdock & Co), Alex Chen (Boulevard Kitchen, Oyster Bar and Wild Blue Restaurant), Rob Clark (CCO Organic Ocean Seafood), Thomas Haas (Thomas Haas Fine Chocolates and Patisserie) David Hawksworth (Nightingale, Hawksworth Restaurant), Scott Jaeger (Culinary Consultant, formerly PearTree), Frank Pabst (Blue Water Cafe) and Maj Yee (Goldilocks Bake Shop).
