MADTI - Make A Difference Through Inclusion

To our Kababayan, our Filipino community,

On behalf of Make A Difference Through Inclusion (MADTI), we offer our deepest condolences to the families, friends, and the Filipino community who lost loved ones at the Lapu-Lapu Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.

One of the things we truly appreciate is our Filipino heritage, learning the values of family, community, belonging, and hospitality. We don’t just have a picnic, we have a pageantry showcasing our culture and history. Everyone is welcome to join in the celebration which include food, music, performances, games, and other activities.

Which is why it is with profound sorrow that a day of celebration turned to tragic loss of lives, imprinting trauma for many who were injured, and the families and friends impacted by the loss of loved ones. It is a reminder of how fragile life can be, and how deeply we are all connected in both joy and in pain.

To those who are mourning: you are not alone. We grieve with you. We feel the brokenness, the anger, and the disbelief. We feel the weight of this senseless act, and the pain and trauma it has caused.

Let it also be a wake-up call to our Nation’s future leaders that mental health cannot be dismissed, ignored, or stigmatized, **mental health matters.**

We all have a role to play in creating a country where help is available, we must listen, support, and care—before tragedy strikes again. We may have not been able to save the 11 lives taken, but let’s honor them by building a nation where such heartbreak is less likely to be repeated.

Together, we grieve.💔
Together, we heal. ❤️‍🩹
- Estela Dalayoan-Pinlac

Whether it is today, a week from now, or months after, grief can be timeless, so if you are needing support or know of someone who need support, please seek help. There are many resources available to help.
https://miss604.com/2025/04/lapu-lapu-day-tragedy-in-vancouver-resources/
https://bc.cmha.ca/news/support-for-filipino-community/
https://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/lapu-lapu-day-mass-casualty-incident.aspx

Show your support! Removing accessibility barriers should be a priority for everyone because it affects everyone directly or indirectly. Deaf & Hear Alberta thank you for sharing this event, we will be there!

Support a barrier-free province at the Accessibiliy NOW rally on Saturday, Sept 28! Come and bring your friends.