British Columbia
Eleven people were killed and dozens of others were injured when an SUV drove through a crowd of people at a Lapu-Lapu Day Filipino block party in Vancouver Saturday night.
City to organize public memorial for victims of alleged attack on street festival in coming weeks
Michelle Gomez · CBC News
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Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has announced the city has begun a comprehensive internal review after acar ramming at theLapu-Lapu Day Filipino block party killed 11 people and injured dozens more.
Speaking at anewsconference Wednesday morning, Sim said the city's review would look at permitting, site safety, planning, and emergency response, and identify further steps for future events.
The preliminary report and updates for future festivals will be announced sometime in the next two weeks, he said.
"We want to ensure that Vancouverites and especially the Filipino community feel safe attending future events in our city," Sim said.
WATCH | Mental health crisis has become 'public safety crisis,' Vancouver mayor says: Mental health crisis has become 'public safety crisis,' Vancouver mayor says at Lapu-Lapu Day update 6 hours ago Duration 2:07
Meanwhile, the city is working with community leaders and event organizers to plan a public memorial, which Sim said would take place in approximately two weeks.
He also called on the province to increase mental health resources.
Sim said news that the man charged in the alleged attack was overseen by a mental health team and on extended leave at the time of the incident was "incredibly difficult to hear."
"The mental health crisis is not just a health crisis. It has become a public safety crisis," said Sim.
"We need to urgently roll out mandatory care for people in severe crisis who pose a risk to themselves and to others."
- Man charged in deadly Lapu-Lapu Day festival rampage was under Mental Health Act supervision
Kai-JiAdam Lo, 30,has been charged witheight counts of second-degree murder. TheMinistry of Health said in a statement Tuesday that "the individual was beingfollowed closely by his care team."
"VCH will continue to review the file, but at this time, the best known information at VCH is thatthere was no indication of violence in this individual's presentation to the VCH team," the statement said.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michelle Gomez
Michelle Gomez is a writer and reporter at CBC Vancouver. You can contact her at michelle.gomez@cbc.ca.
With files from Jason Proctor
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