Horror and tragedy in Vancouver and for the Filipino community

Good morning, 

It’s impossible to describe the grief and the horror of this weekend. What happened on Saturday will be something that won’t be forgotten for a long time in Vancouver.  We break down all the details that are currently available.

We’ve also got a story over in our Ottawa publications that Vancouver readers may find of interest. Our reporter Charlie got an exclusive interview with Diana Fox Carney, the Prime Minister’s wife. 

Let’s get to the news. 

— Geoff Sharpe, Vancity Lookout

PS - If you find this newsletter valuable, please consider forwarding it to your friends. New to the Lookout? Sign-up for free. 

WEATHER

Monday: 9 🌡️ 8 | 🌧️

Tuesday: 13 🌡️ 6 | 🌧️

Wednesday: 13 🌡️ 7 | 🌤️

VANCOUVER NUMBERS

📆 9: The number of years that Vancouver tenants have been dealing with neglect of their units at Cardero Street Regency Park in the West End. They recently won a court case to improve building maintenance. [Vancouver Sun]

🖼️ 20: The number of years that Beaumont Studios has existed. The popular art gallery celebrated its anniversary last weekend, with over 200 artists contributing work towards their fundraiser. [Straight]

🏢 60%: The expected increase, by the end of the year, of unsold condo units. This is the highest level of unsold condo inventory in recent years. Investors are no longer interested in purchasing the units due to rising costs, dropping rents and high interest rates. [Globe and Mail]

PUBLIC SAFETY

Horror and tragedy in Vancouver

It’s a tragedy without precedent in Vancouver. On Saturday night, an SUV slammed into crowds gathered at the Lapu Lapu Filipino street festival, killing 11 people and leaving dozens injured, with potentially more deaths to come.

Understanding what happened: Kai-Ji Adam Lo faces eight counts of second-degree murder, after driving through the festival, which was taking place at East 43rd and Fraser Street, just before 8 pm, according CBC. The people killed range in age from five to 65. 

• One eyewitness told the CBC that as the event was being taken down, a vehicle was let in as the barriers were removed. The vehicle proceeded to hit what the eyewitness said were “countless” people, describing it as a warzone. The eyewitness did not see the car stop. 

Who is Kai-Ji Adam Lo: Police have said there is no indication this was a terrorist attack. Lo was known to police, having had dozens of interactions with them, due to deteriorating mental health, including with health care professionals. His recent mental deterioration coincided after his brother died a year ago, according to the Vancouver Sun. A man was later charged with his brother’s murder. His mother attempted suicide months later and ended up in the hospital. 

• Lo had no prior criminal record. According to sources that spoke to Postmedia, family members contacted a psych ward hours before the attack. 

Leaders from around the world offered their condolences, including Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., federal and provincial party leaders, French President Emmanuel Macron and the German foreign minister. 

What they’re saying: Vancouver’s interim police chief Steve Rai called it “the darkest day in our city’s history” at a press conference on Sunday.

Background: Festivals in Vancouver have increasingly become a site of violence. Two years ago, the Light Up Chinatown! festival dealt with three people being stabbed by a man who was out on a day pass from a psychiatric facility.

A key similarity between those events was that people suffered from mental health issues. 

What it means: The increase in vehicles being used as weapons around the world is likely to continue due to the prevalence of vehicles and ease of access. In recent years, vehicles have been used as weapons in London, Toronto and Montreal. 

What comes next: In a senseless tragedy like this, we’re always quick to point the finger and find fault. There will of course, be time to look into what happened, as the mayor has promised a “full review” of safety measures around the festival, according to CityNews. It also opens up questions around how the police, medical professionals and government should deal with those suffering from mental illness like this. 

Geoff’s thoughts: Questions will be asked, and we will learn more in the coming days and months. But now is a time to mourn, a time to grieve for the people who lost their lives and the countless others who were injured. While it may be the city’s darkest day, after darkness comes the dawn. As we process the tragedy, there can be no doubt that the entire city will be there for the Filipino community and the many people impacted. Because that’s who and what Vancouver is.

Discover your new dream job in Vancouver:

• Player experience researcher, Electronic Arts

• Manager, trade development, Port of Vancouver

• Research analyst, Langara College

• Communications strategist, UBC

• Senior policy analyst, Metro Vancouver

THE AGENDA

🌊 Summertime. Sunshine, beach days and, yes, water restrictions. Starting May 1, water restrictions will go in place until Oct. 15. Even-numbered addresses can water between 5 am-7 am on Saturday, with manual watering 6 am-9 am, while odd-numbered homes are on Sunday. Trees, shrubs and flowers with a sprinkler from 5 am-9 am or anytime by hand. These of course, could change if water conditions worsen. 

💰️ Vancouver’s School Board experienced a cybersecurity incident, an attack it has called it, on Apr. 23. The board is warning employees that personal information may have been accessed. Employees are encouraged to check their bank accounts. [CTV]

🗳️ Could the federal Liberals win every seat in the Lower Mainland? That’s what some polling projections are saying, though it will be very close, with some seats being tossups. The polling aggregator site 338Canada says that Jagmeet Singh could even lose his seat. [CBC]

❌ Those looking to hike Joffre Lakes Park will have to wait for a few weeks. The park will be closed until May 16 for the Líl̓wat and N’Quatqua First Nations to connect with the land, as part of an agreement with the province, an area that is sacred to the local First Nations. [CBC]

🔥 An investigation of a fire in East Hastings that burned two buildings on Wednesday at the 2200 block of East Hastings Street may have been set intentionally. Investigators are still looking into what caused the fire. [Vancouver Sun]

Housing

👋 Developers and rental owners are pushing back against tenant protection rules and zoning that requires below-market rentals, calling them a “terrible idea” at the Vancouver Real Estate Forum. Referring to limiting rental rates for 20 per cent of units to 20 per cent below the city average, one person said, “Why should a certain percentage of brand-new, transit-oriented, quality rental units be locked at 50 per cent below market for a lucky few in perpetuity?” [Business in Vancouver]

📉 If you thought Vancouver wasn’t building enough homes for its population growth, well, you’re right. The latest housing report from Metro Vancouver shows that 230,457 new homes are needed between 2022 and 2026, or around 46,000 per year. But only 23,424 units are being built right now. That number is also expected to decline. [Vancouver Sun]

🏠️ In that same report, rent increases slowed to 2.5 per cent in 2024, down from 9.1 per cent in the previous year. Even better news? Rental construction was the highest it’s been in 20 years. Purpose-built rentals accounted for 37 per cent of housing starts. The one problem? Not enough family units are being built, with only 30 per cent having two or more bedrooms. [CBC]

INSIDER

Cracks in the East Van stronghold

For the next 24 hours, we’ve unlocked our recent federal election story to all readers.

With just a few days to go before the federal election, all eyes are on the two front-running parties. As of Thursday, April 24, polls have the Liberals leading nationally with 42.2 per cent of the vote compared to the Conservatives at 38.5 per cent. Meanwhile, the NDP languishes far behind, sitting at 8.8 per cent. The NDP won about 18 per cent of the popular vote in 2021.

In East Van, national trends and an existential threat from down south appear to be translating into substantial Liberal gains.

With Canadian sovereignty threatened and tariffs still looming, Vancouver East Liberal supporter Thomas Panos says there is a growing feeling among lifelong NDP voters in his circle that Mark Carney, with his long and illustrious CV, is “just the right man for the moment.”

“I don’t want to say they’re holding their noses,” Panos said of his more left-leaning friends, “but they’re going to vote Liberal this time, because of the existential threat that we’re facing. It has much less to do with strategically voting against Pollievre, and it’s more like asking ‘who do we think can help us the most?’”

Read the story

EXCLUSIVE

Meet Diana Fox Carney?

It’s the eve of election day and dozens of red-clad volunteers are working hard inside Nepean Liberal candidate Mark Carney’s Hunt Club area campaign office. 

There is excitement and nerves in the air as the month-long campaign comes to an end. While polls are in Carney’s favour both locally and nationally, nobody is taking the numbers for granted. 

With the Liberal party leader campaigning across Canada, there is little time for Carney to spend in the riding he hopes to represent. On Sunday alone he had six campaign stops in four provinces: Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia. 

The responsibility then falls on the volunteers to spread the party message locally. 

One of their fiercest supporters has been someone who knows the Liberal leader perhaps better than anyone: Diana Fox Carney, the former central banker's wife, who’s spent days in rain, cold, sleet, and sunshine, walking the streets of Nepean. 

In her only interview with the media, Ms. Carney sat down exclusively with The Ottawa Lookout to share a bit about herself, what the campaigning experience has been like and why people should vote for the man she’s been married to for over 30 years. 

EVENT GUIDE

Vibe Corridor | Come out for a midweek DJ set and dance session at one of the city’s top neighbourhood bars | Apr. 30, 9pm | The Lido   

DOXA Film Festival | Enjoy documentary screenings, panel discussions, and public forums | May 1-11, various times and locations | Tickets ~$19 and programming info 

Capture Photography Festival | Various locations, Vancouver | Now until Apr. 30, various times | Lens-based art exhibitions, talks & tours | Learn more

Vancouver Canadians vs Hillsboro Hops | Nat Bailey Stadium, 4601 Ontario St. | Apr. 29–May 4, various times | Minor League baseball, food, fireworks & fun |

Vancouver Whitecaps FC vs Real Salt Lake | BC Place, 777 Pacific Blvd. | May 3, 6:30 pm | Come see the league-leading Whitecaps | Tickets $28+

Vancouver Aquarium Fish & Sips | Vancouver Aquarium, 845 Avison Way | May 3, 7 pm | After-hours ocean party with margaritas, tacos, and music | Tickets $35

VIDEO OF THE DAY

Have you ever wondered where the cherry blossoms came from? This video breaks it all down!

VANCOUVER QUIZ

How many unsold condo units are expected to increase by the end of the year?

COMMUNITY HIGHLIGHTS

• Here’s a powerful story on resiliency and running in the Downtown Eastside. [Vancouver Sun]

• These are some talented animators at the Chalk Change event in North Vancouver. 

• Sadly, popular restaurant Bar Susu is closing on May 30. Be sure to visit before they close as they're bringing back many of their favourite food and drinks. 

• Can it rain pink? According to this video, yes! 

• The Vancouver Folk Music Festival unveiled this year’s lineup, including performers from all across the world and local bands. [Straight]

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