Northerners shocked, grieving in the wake of deadly Vancouver street festival attack

A deadly attack at a Vancouver street festival celebrating Filipino culture has left Filipinos in the North shaken, scared and grieving.

On Saturday night, a man drove an SUV through a crowd of people celebrating at Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party, killing 11 people and injuring more than 20 others. Interim Vancouver police chief Steve Rai has called it the "darkest day in the city's history."

The attack hit especially close to home for Whitehorse resident Jocelyn Curteanu, a board member for the Canadian Filipino Association of the Yukon. Her son was at the festival earlier that day, along with his partner and her daughter's boyfriend — and her sister almost ended up working at the event.

She said while no one she knows was injured, her son does know people who were hospitalized as a result of the attack. She said last she heard, none of those people are critically injured, but she doesn't know much more than that.

"It's just so horrific, I find it hard to even ask questions," she said. "When it hits that close to home, it's very, very disturbing."

The event also hit extremely close to home for Yvonne Clarke, a Filipino-Canadian MLA who represents Porter Creek Centre in the Yukon legislature.

"I'm thinking about the children, the families. It's a happy festival. We do that here in Whitehorse … every year, we have the Canadian Filipino Association Canada Day, we are at the Shipyards Park, we have the fiesta," she said.

"It's like, OK — if it happened there, can it happen here?" 

Vancouver police have said they do not believe the attack was an act of terrorism.The man who was charged following the incident has a history of interactions with police and mental health professionals. He is facing eight counts of second-degree murder.

But Clarke said it's hard not to feel scared when something so horrific happens, especially because so many Filipinos in Yukon have a connection to the community in B.C.

In Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, Filipino resident Wilfredo Abuan was still waiting to hear that his niece in Vancouver was safe on Monday afternoon.

"It's a lot," he said.

Abuan, who is a carer at Rankin Inlet's adult group home, said he is feeling a lot of sadness and some anger about the attack, but he is focusing on staying present so he can care for his patients right now.

He said he feels that what is most important now is that police, mental health workers and governments work together to make sure violence like this is prevented in the future.

"We can't change what happened, but we can prevent [things like this] from happening again," he said.

Northern politicians offer support

Leaders in the North are offering their support and condolences to the Filipino community at home and in Vancouver in response to the attack.

In a Sunday interview, Whitehorse Mayor Kirk Cameron urged anyone in Whitehorse who might be struggling in the wake of the tragedy to reach out to their neighbours and leaders in the Yukon capital.

"This is such a beautiful community and wonderful people," he said. "If you need anything from us, we're here for you."

Yukon Premier Ranj Pillai called the attack "absolutely heartbreaking" in a Sunday interview.

He told CBC he has been in contract with British Columbia Premier David Eby, and the B.C. leader has promised to ensure any Yukoners who were in Vancouver during the attack have access to any help or support they need.

He also said the Yukon government wants to ensure the Filipino community and other groups who want to hold cultural events in the territory feel safe doing so in the future.

Northwest Territories Premier R.J. Simpson offered his condolences in a written statement Sunday night.

"The Filipino community here in the N.W.T. is a vibrant and valued part of life in our territory, and their contributions enrich every corner of the North. Today, we stand with them, with Filipino Canadians across the country, and with all those mourning this tragedy — in grief, in solidarity and in support," he wrote in the statement.

Vigil happening in Yellowknife

Cultural groups in the North are also expressing their support for those impacted by the Vancouver attack.

"To those whose families are shattered, whose hearts are broken, and whose futures have been changed in an instant — please know that you do not grieve alone," the Canadian Filipino Association in the Yukon said in a statement. 

"From the north where we stand, to every corner of this country and our homeland, the embrace of the Filipino spirit surrounds you. Our prayers, our strength and our love are with you."

The Philippine Cultural Association of Yellowknife has organized a vigil to honour and remember all those impacted by the Vancouver attack. The vigil will start at 6:30 p.m. on Friday at Somba K'e Civic Plaza outside Yellowknife city hall.

"We extend our deepest love, thoughts, and prayers to the families who have lost loved ones, and to everyone who is mourning and grieving at this time. We mourn with you, and we stand beside you in this time of sorrow," the organization said in a statement.

"In these difficult times, may we find strength in one another. Our community stands together — in grief, in compassion, and in hope."