Vancouver: Nine killed and suspect arrested after vehicle hit crowd at Lapu-Lapu street festival

Vancouver, a seaport on the Pacific Ocean on Canada’s West Coast, is one of the most diverse cities in Canada.

The city and surrounding area have a population of about 2.6 million, which grew with immigration from Asia and Europe joining indigenous people.

In recent years, immigration from China and other countries in Asia has jumped significantly.

As of the 2021 Census, 41.8% of the population was foreign-born, and 14.2% of the total population were “recent” immigrants, having arrived between 2016 and 2021.

The top three places of birth for immigrants living in Vancouver are China, India and the Philippines.
Thousands of Filipinos in Vancouver were celebrating Lapu-Lapu Day on Saturday when the tragedy struck.

The festival, celebrated especially in the central Philippines, marks a defining moment in Philippine history.

It honors Datu Lapu-Lapu, the Filipino chieftain who famously defeated Spanish forces led by Ferdinand Magellan in the Battle of Mactan in 1521 and became a national hero.

The centerpiece of the festivities in Vancouver is a multi-block street party in the Sunset neighborhood featuring Filipino food and traditions, live performances and cultural displays.

The party on Saturday was just starting to break up but many people were still in the streets when a dark SUV rammed into the crowd.

The government of British Columbia officially recognized April 27 as Lapu-Lapu Day in 2023, acknowledging the cultural contributions of the Filipino-Canadian community, one of the largest immigrant groups in the province.

Lapu-Lapu’s victory is celebrated in the Philippines as a symbol of nation’s resistance to colonization and the bravery of its early leaders.

The city of Lapu-Lapu on Mactan Island in the central Philippines is named in honor of the chieftain and serves as a living tribute to his legacy.