Families Not Consulted Before Vancouver Approves Lapu-Lapu Day Memorial, Says Filipino B.C. Group

Vancouver city council has unanimously approved a motion to host a large-scale memorial this June for victims of the Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy — but a key community group says the families most affected were not consulted before the decision was made.

The motion, brought forward Tuesday by Councillor Sarah Kirby-Yung, calls for a commemorative event during Filipino Heritage Month to honour the 11 lives lost and many more injured during the Lapu-Lapu Day festival incident earlier this year.

Kirby-Yung told council that the motion was time-sensitive to allow for event planning and budgeting, including setting aside $50,000 for possible overruns. She said Rogers Arena would be donated by Canucks Sports & Entertainment, and TicketMaster had agreed to waive fees for a “nominal ticket price,” with any proceeds going to the Filipino community.

“It's fitting to host this event in June,” Kirby-Yung said, citing the cultural importance of the month and the need for timely organization.

While some councillors initially suggested postponing the vote to consult with the affected communities, the motion ultimately passed the same day. Kirby-Yung said the city had spoken with several organizations, including MLA Mable Elmore, B.C.’s first Filipino-Canadian MLA and a long-time community advocate.

“I have every confidence this is with the community, for the community, and by the community,” she said.

Filipino B.C. Expresses Concern

Shortly after the vote, Filipino B.C. — the group that organized the original festival — released a statement saying they had not been informed about the motion before the council meeting.

“The city recently told us about a large-scale event in June, but we were not consulted about a memorial,” the group said.

They emphasized that while they are regularly in touch with the city and continue to support grieving families, they are not part of the community steering committee organizing the memorial.

“There is space and need for both intimate, community-led events and broader tributes,” their statement read, “but the timing, tone, and format must reflect the voices of victims and affected communities.”

Filipino B.C. is now calling on the City of Vancouver to prioritize direct engagement with victims' families as memorial plans move forward.