Neepawa Holds Interfaith Gathering in Solidarity with Vancouver Tragedy Victims

The Lapu-Lapu Festival is an annual Filipino cultural and heritage celebration in Vancouver, held in honour of the Filipino hero Datu Lapu-Lapu. But this year’s festival took a heartbreaking turn when a car attack struck participants on April 27, 2025.

The tragedy claimed the lives of eleven individuals, ranging in age from five to sixty-five, and left more than twenty-four others injured, several critically. The attack sent shock waves across Canada, sparking an outpouring of grief, compassion, and solidarity. Communities from coast to coast united to honour the victims and support those affected.

One such gathering took place in Neepawa on May 10, 2025, where an interfaith service brought together people of all backgrounds to pray, offer condolences, and share hope for healing and peace.

During the vigil, Pastor Friesen of Prairie Alliance Church delivered a powerful reflection on the meaning of unity: “I’ve been asked to speak tonight and reflect and pray for the hope for world peace and unity. Unity is an interesting thing… but unity in and of itself is not necessarily a good thing. A sports team united in winning is just as united as a group determined to do harm. Unity is at the heart of both, but what you choose to unite around is what makes it either virtuous or vicious. In times like this, it’s easy to look at destructive actions and unite around the idea that we will never be like ‘those people.’ But that is not true unity—it is division with a mask on. The unity we are called to in this moment is not a unity against, but a unity toward. Our mandate is not to fight evil with evil, but to fight evil with good.”

Following the service, organizer Laarni Santos shared the inspiration behind the vigil. She explained that the purpose was not only to honour the victims and pay tribute to those who lost their lives, but also to remind everyone that in times of tragedy, Filipinos stand together in the face of adversity.

The initiative was born from concerned members of the Filipino-Canadian community in Neepawa, who felt compelled to express solidarity with their kababayan across Canada. Santos emphasized that it was not just a Filipino effort—people from across the community, including representatives of different faith groups, came together in a shared spirit of compassion.

In light of this tragedy, the Lapu-Lapu Festival—long a celebration of Filipino culture, heroism, and heritage—has also become a symbol of resilience and unity, proving once again the strength of community in the face of sorrow.