A palpable sense of loss has been felt throughout Vancouver the previous couple of days, as mourners collect to grieve the victims of Saturday’s Lapu Lapu festival tragedy — and the devastation is being felt far past metropolis limits..
In Nova Scotia, members of the Filipino-Canadian neighborhood are talking out in assist of the victims and their households.
“We’re resilient. And through this second of problem and challenges that we face, not solely with the Filipino Canadians in Vancouver, however that is felt everywhere in the world the place Filipinos are,” mentioned Elizabeth Estaquio-Domondon, a board member with VISMIN Affiliation of Nova Scotia.
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The Lapu Lapu competition ought to have been a chance to have fun tradition and contributions of the Filipino neighborhood, however all that pleasure has been stripped away.
The tragedy not solely raises questions on safety measures at road festivals, but in addition shines mild on an obvious hole in psychological well being helps.
“In some methods, there are crises occurring. It’s a query of reaching out to those individuals, having the sources to succeed in out to them,” mentioned Mike Asuncion, a spokesperson with the Filipino Affiliation of Nova Scotia.
Since Saturday’s incident, the driving force of the SUV has been charged with eight counts of homicide and police confirmed he had a number of earlier interactions with officers in reference to ongoing psychological well being points.
“He may very well be opening an eye fixed for us to. Be extra vigilant, to be extra lively, and proactive in wanting into the psychological well being of individuals which might be troubled by it,” mentioned Estaquio-Domondon.
She and others within the Maritimes need the victims, their households and all these affected by the assault to know their east coast neighborhood is considering them.
“You’re in our prayers. We wish to focus not simply (on) the tragedy, however the individuals themselves — the nice individuals. Particularly the people who have been misplaced,” mentioned Asuncion.
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