As the community mourns, festival organizers reflected on the profound loss and the long-term impact this tragedy will have on the tight-knit Filipino population in Vancouver. Eyewitness accounts paint a chaotic scene, with reports of extensive casualties and panic among festival attendees. Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his deep sorrow and canceled political events to pay respects, while various other political leaders also showed their solidarity with the grieving community. As the investigation unfolds, Vancouver grapples with questions of safety and mental health awareness, remaining united in their grief.

The Lapu Lapu Day festival, commemorating a national Filipino hero, once symbolized cultural pride but now serves as a poignant reminder of vulnerability.