Hundreds of people gathered in the city of Yellowknife on Friday evening in honour of those who lost their lives at the Lapu-Lapu festival tragedy in Vancouver.
Luksang Bayan: A Community Vigil was held at the Somba K’e Civic Plaza Amphitheatre. The community vigil was led by the Philippine Cultural Association of Yellowknife in honour of the eleven people who were senselessly and tragically murdered on April 26.
Nariie Dapilos, who is the president of the Philippine Cultural Association of Yellowknife, began the ceremony. Dapilos spoke to those gathered about kapwa and bayanihan as being embodied by the people gathered at the vigil.
“The significance of this vigil is to show that support, show that kapwa, that bayanihan spirit, that we are there for them. Even though we are not there physically, we are there for those who are affected by the tragedy,” said Dapilos.
“When we come here together as a community, people from different backgrounds, cultures. It’s a beautiful thing, all the diversity in the crowd seeing the community come out to show support for something like this.”
Kapwa (Tagalog) is a Filipino value of community, interconnectedness and collective humanity.
Bayanihan comes from the Tagalog word bayan, meaning one’s hometown and is also a reference to the Filipino motherland. Bayanihan is a Filipino value of community and the spirit of helping others without expecting something in return, an inherent value in Filipino culture.
Luksang Bayan is the action of mourning together as a community.
The hundreds who gathered for the vigil on Friday evening observed 11 minutes of silence for the 11 people who lost their lives last Saturday in Vancouver.
Community members and leaders across N.W.T. have expressed messages of condolences and solidarity to the Filipino community and everyone affected by what happened. The territories are home to thousands of people from the Filipino community.
This week, many locals have visited the Somba K’e Civic Plaza Amphitheatre, where the memorial took place. Throughout the week, Yellowknifers have stopped to pay respects with a moment of silence, to offer condolences and solidarity to the Filipino community and those affected by the devastating events just one week ago.
Last Saturday evening, a man drove into a large crowd of people at the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival near East 43rd Avenue and Fraser Street in Vancouver’s Sunset neighbourhood.
Vancouver police reported that eleven people, aged 5 to 65, were killed, and more than two dozen others were injured.
A 30-year-old Vancouver man was arrested at the scene by Vancouver Police after bystanders and witnesses at the festival intervened to detain him.
Kira Salim, Linh Hoang, Richard Le, Katie Le, Rizza Pagkanlungan, Glitza Maria Caicedo, Daniel Samper, Glitza Daniela Samper, Jendhel May Sico, Jen Darbellay and Maria Victoria Bjarnason are among the people who were killed in Vancouver on April 26.
Vancouver’s Sunset neighbourhood is historically known for its ethnic diversity, which has continued to grow over the decades. The neighbourhood is home to many people of Filipino, Chinese, East Indian, Vietnamese, Spanish, Mexican, and Middle Eastern ancestries.
Two years ago, on April 27, the province of B.C. officially declared Lapu-Lapu Day. Last weekend, the Lapu-Lapu festival filled Vancouver’s Sunset neighbourhood with thousands of people who were celebrating Lapu-Lapu Day.
Datu Lapu-Lapu was an Visayan Chieftain from Mactan, Philippines, who resisted Spanish and Portuguese colonization in the 1500s. He is considered the first national hero of the Philippines.
Earlier this week, Premier R.J. Simpson made a special announcement offering condolences to everyone affected by the tragic events.
“The heartbreaking news from Vancouver has left many of us in the Northwest Territories shaken and grieving. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones, those who were injured, and all those whose lives have been forever changed by this senseless act,” said Simpson.
“On behalf of all Northerners, I offer my heartfelt condolences to the victims, their families, and the Filipino community across Canada. Our hearts are with you during this painful time.”
Members of Yellowknife City Council have also expressed messages of solidarity and condolences.
“I would like to begin by acknowledging on behalf of Council members and residents the horrific and tragic events surrounding the senseless vehicle attack in Vancouver. On behalf of all residents, I offer our sincere condolences to the families, friends and loved ones of the victims of this tragedy. The Yellowknife Filipino community forms an invaluable part of Yellowknife’s rich cultural heritage. Yellowknife stands with the Filipino community and offer our unqualified support and compassion during this time,” said Deputy Mayor Ben Hendriksen in an announcement this week.
“This loss is deeply felt here in Yellowknife, especially within Yellowknife’s Filipino community, whose presence is an integral part of the city. The City of Yellowknife stands in solidarity with those mourning across the country and grieves alongside our residents affected by this tragedy — your sorrow is shared by all of us,” said city Council in a joint statement.
Filipino BC, a non-profit group dedicated to fostering a vibrant Filipino and broader community in B.C., shared this message following the attack in Vancouver:
“On April 26, 2025, an act of violence at the Lapu-Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver claimed lives and left our community in mourning. Our hearts are with the families and all those affected as the Filipino Canadian community and beyond grieves this devastating loss.
“We are still finding words to express the deep heartbreak brought on by this senseless tragedy. We are devastated for the families and victims. We encourage everyone to check in, support and hold each other. Do not hesitate to access resources available. You are not alone. Victim Services are availalble 24/7 to those who witnessed or experienced trauma, call or text 1-800-563-0808 or email [email protected], or call the 310 Mental Health Line at 310-678 or the Crisis Line at 1-800-784-2433
“In this time of sorrow, we come together not just to mourn, but to care for one another, to support the victims and their families, and to begin the long process of healing—together,” said Filipino BC.
The United Way is collecting donations to assist those impacted by the tragic events in Vancouver last week. Anyone who would like to make a donation can visit the United Way website page Support United Way BC’s Kapwa Strong Fund.
