Filipino BC voices concerns about Lapu Lapu memorial event at Rogers Arena

The City of Vancouver is moving forward with a large-scale memorial event at Rogers Arena to commemorate the Lapu Lapu festival tragedy, but some members of the Filipino community are sharing concerns about how the event was planned.

Vancouver city councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung brought forward a “time-sensitive, urgent motion” on behalf of Mayor Ken Sim on Tuesday regarding the proposed “Come Together: Vancouver Strong” event.

The motion to authorize the City to enter into no-fee contract with Canucks Entertainment Corp. for the use of Rogers Arena sometime in June passed unanimously after a debate and vote.

However, Filipino BC, organizers of Lapu Lapu Day, said that they were not notified about the urgent motion that Vancouver city councillors voted for.

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“While we understand the City’s desire to create space for collective mourning and healing, it is critical that this process centres the voices of the families and affected communities,” said Filipino BC in a statement published on June 3.

“We urge the City of Vancouver to remain accountable to that principle and to prioritize long-term recovery support as part of its commitment to those impacted.”

City “surprised” by Filipino BC’s response

However, in a statement to Daily Hive, the Mayor’s Office said that it has been working closely with Filipino BC and other community partners on this commemorative, not-for-profit benefit event since the immediate aftermath of the tragedy on Saturday, April 26.

This includes a recent meeting where Come Together: Vancouver Strong was discussed, including the need to bring an urgent motion to Council, as any work being done on the event needed approval from Council.

“Our office was surprised by Filipino BC’s recent comments regarding the event, given our ongoing and regular communication with their organization,” said a representative for the Mayor’s Office. “We had met with Filipino BC as recently as this past Friday, and the executive director participated directly in that meeting.

“We have reached out to Filipino BC directly to seek clarification and reaffirm our shared commitment to ensuring this event is done with the community. We remain committed to standing with the Filipino community and all those impacted by this tragedy, both now and as we move forward together.”

Lapu Lapu memorial events should be “directed by the community”

The planned memorial event comes less than two months after a driver plowed through a crowd at a Vancouver street festival celebrating the Filipino community and culture.

Vancouver Police confirmed 11 people were killed in the tragedy, with many more injured. Various GoFundMe fundraisers were launched to support victims and their families.

Filipino BC confirmed in their statement that they, along with other community groups, were invited to a roundtable hosted by the City of Vancouver in May to discuss a potential memorial event.

“During that meeting, we expressed that any event, public tribute or memorial should be done in close consultation with the families of the victims, and should be shaped and directed by the community,” explained the community group.

“The Vancouver Police Department’s Victim Services Unit is responsible for speaking with families about a possible memorial and relaying their perspectives to the City. We are in regular contact with the City of Vancouver, but Filipino BC does not sit on the community steering for the memorial event.”

Some councillors wanted to refer the motion

During the debate over the motion on Tuesday, councillor Kirby-Yung explained that the “Come Together: Vancouver Strong” event is being fast-tracked for June to coincide with Filipino Heritage Month.

According to Kirby-Yung, Brand Live is donating its production services free of charge and Ticketmaster will waive its fees.

“There will be some hard costs with respect to equipment, utilities, and some technical staff, but the intention is to charge a very nominal ticket fee,” explained Kirby-Yung during her introduction of the motion.

“Should there be any remaining funds, they would be donated to the Filipino community in consultation with the community.”

Several Vancouver city councillors attempted to refer the motion to a future meeting to give the council more time to discuss the event with the community.

“Memorialization of anything as significant as what was experienced after the Lapu Lapu festival needs to be done with a whole heart and a confidence that each of us that gets to vote in this chamber has had sufficient time to engage with the networks and communities that were impacted by this tragedy,” said Vancouver city councillor Rebecca Bligh.

The referral motion failed, which then prompted the council to vote on the motion on the event, which passed.

Lapu Lapu event will be a benefit concert

While details about the planned Lapu Lapu Day memorial event haven’t been confirmed yet, a statement from Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington, announced that the event at Rogers Arena will be a benefit concert.

The United Filipino Canadian Associations of British Columbia (UFCABC), a coalition of over 60 registered societies representing the Filipino Canadian community across the province, also issued a statement confirming that the event will be a benefit concert.

It also expressed its full support for the upcoming memorial event in honour of the victims of the Lapu Lapu Day tragedy.

“As a community, we are united in our commitment to support all efforts aimed at healing and rebuilding,” said UFCABC. “We will continue to work closely with the City of Vancouver and other community partners to help ensure the success of each initiative being organized and response to this tragedy.

“We welcome the City’s commitment of funding toward the planned event. This show of solidarity is both meaningful and appreciated. We acknowledge and are grateful for the City’s consistent and open communication with the Filipino community since day one of this tragic event.”

In a statement to Daily Hive, Filipino BC said that its concerns lie with the lack of centering the victims and families of the tragedy.

“We were not consulted on the content and specifics of the motion, which was for a memorial event and not a benefit concert,” said RJ Aquino, Chair of Filipino BC.

“We heard from the community, including victims and families, that while they are in support of a benefit concert, the motion for a memorial event felt inappropriate and ill-advised. They also told us that an event in June feels too soon. We (also) understand that the City had not reached out to the victims and families before this motion.”

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