City review underway into Lapu-Lapu Day tragedy; Mayor asks province for mental health resources

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim has announced the city has begun a comprehensive internal review after a car ramming at the Lapu-Lapu Day Filipino block party killed 11 people and injured dozens more. 

Speaking at a news conference Wednesday morning, Sim said the city's review would look at permitting, site safety, planning, and emergency response, and identify further steps for future events.

The preliminary report and updates for future festivals will be announced sometime in the next two weeks, he said. 

"We want to ensure that Vancouverites and especially the Filipino community feel safe attending future events in our city," Sim said. 

WATCH | Mental health crisis has become 'public safety crisis,' Vancouver mayor says:

Mental health crisis has become 'public safety crisis,' Vancouver mayor says at Lapu-Lapu Day update

2 hours ago

Duration 2:07

Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim, speaking Wednesday at a briefing about the deadly Lapu-Lapu Day festival tragedy, said Vancouver Coastal Health had confirmed the accused in the case was 'under the care of a mental health care team and on extended leave.' Sim, who offered no specifics about the accused, again called on upper levels of government to do more around mental health.

Meanwhile, the city is working with community leaders and event organizers to plan a public memorial, which Sim said would take place in approximately two weeks. 

He also called on the province to increase mental health resources. 

Sim said news that the man charged in the attack was overseen by a mental health team and on extended leave at the time of the incident was "incredibly difficult to hear." 

"The mental health crisis is not just a health crisis. It has become a public safety crisis," said Sim. 

"We need to urgently roll out mandatory care for people in severe crisis who pose a risk to themselves and to others."

Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder. The Ministry of Health said in a statement Tuesday that "the individual was being followed closely by his care team."

"VCH will continue to review the file, but at this time, the best known information at VCH is that there was no indication of violence in this individual's presentation to the VCH team," the statement said.