B.C. report urges greater support for community organizers in aftermath of Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy
The report of a B.C. commission created in the aftermath of the tragic events at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver has recommended the province better support community organizers through increased access to safety training and grants to offset security costs.
The Commission of Inquiry into Community Events' Safety, headed by former chief justice Christopher Hinkson, was established by the province following the tragic events on April 26 at a Filipino community event.
Eleven people died at the Lapu-Lapu Day Block Party in Vancouver, with dozens more injured, after the accused Kai-ji Adam Lo, 30, drove into a crowd of people as the event was winding down.
"The lasting trauma experienced by victims, families, and communities remains a solemn reminder of what is at stake in public safety planning," said Hinkson.
"However, the Lapu-Lapu Day incident itself is the subject of an ongoing criminal investigation and was excluded from the commission's mandate."
The commission, which looked at festival safety in general, heard from municipalities across the province, regional districts, Indigenous partners, police, and event organizers from a wide range of communities, ultimately making six recommendations aimed at improving safety outcomes for community events in the province.
Hinkson made six recommendations, calling for all public events in B.C. to include a mandatory risk assessment that takes into account an event's scale, location, activities, and potential hazards.
The report recommends the province create a centralized hub for event safety, where event organizers can find standardized advice, training, and practical tools for anyone involved in planning public events.
Hinkson suggested the province provide more opportunities for festival organizers to access funding to help pay for security measures at their events, such as fencing, barriers and traffic control, as well as establish clear criteria that define roles and responsibilities for the event during planning.
The report also recommends better collaboration between event organizers and emergency personnel that would include routine assessments after public events.
Terry Yung, B.C. minister of state for community safety, said his office "fully accepts the intent of the recommendations," and intends to do its best to implement them as soon as possible before the end of the year.
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