According to a spokesperson for the Philippine community, the day of official mourning in memory of the 11 people who lost their lives during the tragedy will be part of the healing process, but it will “certainly not the end of it”.
RJ Aquino, member of Filipino BC, the group that organized the Lapu Lapu festival last Saturday, stresses that the designation of this day of mourning by the government shows the importance of this tragedy in the history of the province and the city of Vancouver.
One of the events organized to mark this day of mourning will be a mass to be held in the early evening at the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Vancouver.
Mass will take place approximately three hours after the suspect in this case, Adam Kai-ji Lo, 30, has appeared before the provincial court to present a request.
The British Columbia legal proceedings said that the LO lawyer had requested that the appearance be preceded in relation to the date initially scheduled for May 26.
-LO faces eight chiefs of second degree murder. Police said other charges should be brought.
The man is accused of having rushed with his sport utility vehicle on the crowd in a crowded street during the Lapu Lapu festival last Saturday evening.
Solidarity gesture
British Columbia Prime Minister David Eby is expected to attend mass.
He argued that this day of mourning will allow the British-Colombians to meditate in memory of the deceased or injured, while showing their solidarity with the Philippine community.
Schools and other public services will remain open, but Eby hopes that employers will show understanding if their employees wish to attend events or mark this day in their own way.
