Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim said he was surprised by criticism of plans to honour victims of the Lapu Lapu festival attack with a large memorial event, which a Filipino advocacy group said lacked consultation and felt "too soon" for some in the community.
The benefit concert is set to be staged at Rogers Arena sometime this month, with the city footing up to $50,000 in production costs and the owners of the Vancouver Canucks offering the venue and its staff at no cost.
"It is not lost on me that we are now in June, and this is typically Filipino Heritage Month," said Coun. Sarah Kirby-Yung, who moved the "time-sensitive" motion on the event.
But soon after Vancouver's council unanimously approved the "Come Together: Vancouver Strong" event, Filipino BC released a statement saying it wasn't told in advance about the vote, and the city should be prioritizing emergency recovery funding for those affected by the April 26 tragedy in which 11 people were killed and dozens hurt.
The group was the organizer of the Lapu Lapu Day festival and has advocated for victims and the Filipino community.
It said it had not been notified of the motion, and "the timing, tone and format of such an event should be aligned with victims and the communities impacted."
"While we understand the city’s desire to create space for collective mourning and healing, it is critical that this process centres the voices of the families and affected communities," it said.
Sim said the remarks caught him by surprise.
He said in a statement Wednesday that there had been "ongoing and regular communication" with Filipino BC.
"We had met with Filipino BC as recently as this past Friday, and the executive director participated directly in that meeting," he said.
"Come Together: Vancouver Strong was discussed at that meeting, including the need to bring an urgent motion to council … as any work being done needed approval from council."
RJ Aquino, who chairs Filipino BC, said in another statement later Wednesday that the group was not consulted on the content and specifics of the motion, and the problem was not about communication with Filipino BC.
"We heard from the community, including victims and families, that while they are in support of a benefit concert, the motion for a memorial event felt inappropriate and ill advised. They also told us an event in June feels too soon," Aquino said.
"We understand that the city had not reached out to the victims and families before this motion."
Others are enthusiastic about the event, including Christian Cunanan, president of the United Filipino Canadian Association of British Columbia.
He said the group had extended "full and unwavering support" for the city's planned event.
"We welcome the city's commitment of funding toward the planned event. This show of solidarity is both meaningful and appropriate," read the statement.
Kirby-Yung said she had been advised by the mayor's office to bring the motion forward on behalf of B.C. MLA Mable Elmore.
Elmore — who is of Filipino heritage and was at the Lapu Lapu festival when the attack took place — also issued a statement on Wednesday calling the event a "welcome step toward healing."
"Mayor Sim, his staff, Filipino BC, and other stakeholders have been present at the table and working together to prepare for 'Come Together: Vancouver Strong,'" Elmore said.
She said the concert will help the community and the city to "emerge stronger and more united."
A new motion was tabled at Vancouver City Council late Wednesday, with Coun. Pete Fry asking the event's steering committee to "meaningfully" include voices of victims' families and affected communities.
"Because we are hearing that some community voices have not felt heard in this process, that it's important that we get this right," said Fry. The motion passed without opposition.
Adam Kai-Ji Lo faces second-degree murder charges related to the attack, in which an SUV was driven at high speed through a crowd of festival attendees.
Thursday marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for victims according to Catholic tradition.
