Campus Life News  

UBCO's Stephen McNeil earns national recognition

Dr. Stephen McNeil was named one of Canada’s Top 10 and presented with the 2025 3M National Teaching Fellowship Monday.

UBC Okanagan's Dr. W. Stephen McNeil is now officially one of Canada's top educators, earning a 2025 3M National Teaching Fellowship on Monday. 

Presented to only 10 educators each year, the fellowship is considered one of the country's highest honours for post-secondary instructors, recognizing their exceptional contributions to educational leadership, teaching excellence and educational innovation. 

Dr. McNeil, Associate Professor of Chemistry, says the classroom is just the beginning of a student's university learning experience. He strives to help students develop transferable skills to help them become meaningful global citizens, regardless of their future careers. 

"Science teachers like to believe we're training the next generation of scientists, but in terms of student numbers and an overall contribution to society, this is far from our principal task," explains Dr. McNeil.  

"More importantly, we're training people how to think like scientists, and how to interpret ideas and data in their daily lives. I've come to realize that my role as an educator is to prepare scientifically literate citizens as well as capable scientists. This has enormous impact on what I choose to teach, and how I choose to teach it." 

A founding member of UBC Okanagan's faculty, Dr. McNeil joined the Department of Chemistry in the Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science (previously the Irving K. Barber School of Arts and Sciences) in 2005 when the campus first opened its doors. Since then, he has fostered a strong reputation for educational innovation and has advanced his inclusive teaching style grounded in learner-centred approaches. 

"It's a great honour to be named a 3M National Teaching Fellow," says Dr. McNeil. "This recognition reflects the incredible support I've received from my colleagues, my students and the UBC Okanagan community. I'm deeply committed to creating engaging, inclusive and meaningful learning experiences, and I'm grateful that my work has been recognized in this way." 

This award marks the first time an instructor from UBC Okanagan has received a 3M National Teaching Fellowship, building on the many impressive accolades Dr. McNeil has received over the course of his career. These past recognitions include the Open Education Resources Excellence and Impact Award (2024), the West Coast Teaching Excellence Award (2023), the Chemical Institute of Canada Award for Chemistry Education (2019), the Killam Teaching Prize (2018) and the Provost's Award for Teaching Excellence and Innovation (2009).  

He was also named a UBCO Teaching Fellow for 2024-25 and continues to play a leading role in supporting and growing UBC Okanagan's teaching and learning culture.  

"This award is a well-deserved recognition of the passion and dedication to teaching that Dr. McNeil has continuously brought to UBC Okanagan since its earliest days," says Dr. Rehan Sadiq, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, at UBC's Okanagan campus. "His willingness to embrace innovation and try new approaches has led to truly transformative learning experiences that have supported students in his classroom and across our campus, helping to shape the learning environment we are so proud of today." 

With this award, Dr. McNeil joins a distinguished group of Canadian educators who are celebrated for teaching excellence and educational leadership. The 3M National Teaching Fellows will be formally recognized at the Society for Teaching and Learning in Higher Education 2025 National Conference this June in Saskatoon. 

The post UBCO's Stephen McNeil earns national recognition appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Okanagan College names veteran researchers to lead Applied Research department

Okanagan College (OC) is excited to announce the appointment of two experienced, community-focused researchers to lead its Applied Research department and work to support communities throughout the Okanagan, Shuswap and beyond.

Dr. Mary Butterfield is joining the College as its new Director of Applied Research. Butterfield joins OC after spending 15 years working in grant and research administration. She is currently a senior advisor with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR), the federal agency that funds health research in Canada.

The College also named Kerry Rempel as its Associate Director of Applied Research. Rempel has been with OC since 2004 as a faculty member, an Associate Dean and most recently as the interim director of Applied Research.

Butterfield previously worked in research administration at both UBC Okanagan and the University of Lethbridge. Locally, she serves as the vice chair of the John Howard Society of the Okanagan and Kootenays and was previously board member for the Central Okanagan Foundation.

“I am excited about the research capacity at the College and the reach that the College has into the communities that it serves,” said Butterfield. “Through my experience in the community, I have been impressed with the stellar reputation that the College has with local businesses and non-profit organizations, and I am excited to leverage that reputation to grow OC’s research enterprise. I have a passion for working with students to develop their applied research skills, both as transferable skills for the workforce, and as the basis for entrepreneurship and innovation.”

Butterfield has a PhD in Philosophy from Vanderbilt University (2016), where her research focused on analyzing the capacity of Canadian research funding agencies to respond to the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation report. Her doctoral training included a particular focus on theoretical and applied ethics, as well as democratic theory, policy, and Indigenous governance.

Rempel first joined Okanagan College in 2004, bringing a diverse background to the College with industry and community experience in a variety of areas. Over the past 10 years Rempel has developed a practice in community engaged research, most recently being recognized as an emerging scholar by Community-Based Research Canada. Her work has primarily delved into societal issues such as poverty and homelessness in Kelowna and Penticton.

“This marks a new chapter for me as I formally move into a leadership role supporting the development of research and researchers at Okanagan College,” said Rempel. “I am looking forward to connecting industry and community to research opportunities that bring together College expertise and students’ projects, and which address practical and societal challenges in the Okanagan and beyond. This provides opportunities for students to gain hands-on experience alongside experts in the field to make lasting impacts in community.”

Okanagan College’s Applied Research department supports research projects across the institution and is home to the BC Beverage Technology Access Centre. The department funds research projects including the mapping of waste in the beverage industry, return to study protocols after a Traumatic Brain Injury, sustainable construction, and others.

“We are thrilled to have such dedicated community leaders joining our team to take our research activities to the next level. The possibilities of how we can support communities as well as students are endless,” said OC Provost and Vice President Academic Sam Lenci. “Both Mary and Kerry and their teams are going to continue to integrate with community, looking for solutions to real-world problems,”

Butterfield and Rempel begin their new roles in June. 

University of Toronto Press Announces the Release of Canadian Ecopolitics by Rosalind Warner, Will Greaves, and Peter Stoett

The University of Toronto Press is proud to announce the publication of Canadian Ecopolitics, an authoritative new volume by Rosalind Warner, Will Greaves, and Peter Stoett, available in hardcover this May. Canadian Ecopolitics delivers a comprehensive exploration of the intersection between environmental issues and political processes in Canada, offering an in-depth analysis of the nation’s evolving role on the global stage and the complexities of multilevel governance of Canadian environment and society. With 380 pages of rigorous scholarship, the book provides essential insights for students, policymakers, and anyone interested in the future of Canada’s environmental policy.  The authors-Rosalind Warner, a continuing college professor of political science; Will Greaves, an associate professor of international relations (and recently elected Member of Parliament for Victoria); and Peter Stoett, a leading scholar in environmental politics-bring together decades of expertise to examine the challenges and opportunities facing Canada as it navigates climate change, resource management, and international environmental commitments. 
Key features of Canadian Ecopolitics include:

• A thorough overview of Canadian environmental politics and policy
• Analysis of Canada’s environmental leadership and challenges in global governance
• Discussion of Indigenous perspectives and the impact of environmental decisions on communities
• Critical examination of climate change, sustainability, and resource extraction

Canadian Ecopolitics is now available for pre-order through the University of Toronto Press and will be released in May 2025. 
This essential text is poised to become a cornerstone reference for understanding Canada’s environmental future.

OC Cultivates lands at KF Centre for Excellence

Okanagan College’s tastiest event series, OC Cultivates, returns to Kelowna on May 28.

The event highlights a flavoursome combination of sampling and learning with a tasting and experience festival featuring local food and beverage providers, followed by an industry panel discussing topics impacting the food, beverage and tourism sectors of the region.

Hosted in the KF Centre for Excellence, one of Canada’s most inspiring aviation settings, attendees won’t have to look far to experience the focus of the evening - the intersection between the transportation industry, tourism and hospitality, and local food, beverage and culinary scenes.

The evening will feature an on-stage panel discussing the unique opportunities and challenges faced by local businesses navigating issues around transportation. Speakers include Michael J. Ballingall, Senior Vice President at Big White Ski Resort, Krista Mallory, Manager, Central Okanagan Economic Development Commission, Grant Stevens, Chief Corporate Services Officer at KF Aerospace and Neil Fassina, Okanagan College President. The moderated discussion will include an opportunity for the audience to ask questions.

“Okanagan College plays a key role in developing programming that supports the unique needs of communities throughout the region,” said Dean of the OC School of Business, Joe Baker. “OC Cultivates gives us the chance to highlight these industries and how they work together to make the Okanagan Valley such a special place. It’s exciting to be able to bring this amazing group of hospitality, tourism, aerospace and food and beverage professionals together in this way.”

The new Centre for Food, Wine and Tourism under construction at the Okanagan College campus in Kelowna is scheduled to open in 2027. Baker says OC Cultivates, and the recent Kelowna bid to be designated as Canada’s first UNESCO City of Gastronomy, are evidence of the momentum in these sectors locally.

OC Cultivates will feature live music, networking and an exclusive tasting and experience festival, featuring local beverage and food vendors, including Gray Monk Estate, Sandhill Wines and Tinhorn Creek Winery, Copper Brewing, Maison Mulnati, Nostalgia Wines, O-Lake Café and Bistro, Okanagan Lavender and Herb Farm, Pick Thai Restaurant, Ready to Cook, Relvas Catering, Scenic Road Cider, Three Lakes Brewing, Township 7 Vineyards and Winery and more.

Okanagan College will also have a presence in the tasting festival, with booths hosted by OC Culinary Arts students, Executive Chef at Infusions Restaurant Ruth Wigman, and Chef Danny Capadouca, instructor of Pastry Arts at OC.

The Beverage Technology Access Centre at Okanagan College will also host a tasting and experience booth highlighting supports and research work benefiting the local beverage industries.

Tickets for the May 28 event available here.

Okanagan College features several programs designed to support the food, beverage and tourism industries, helping to create the workforce of the future. This includes OC’s Tourism and Hospitality Management and recently launched Entrepreneurship specialty that are both part of the College’s popular BBA degree program, viticulture, wine sales and winery assistant certificate programs, as well as the ongoing Hospitality Professional Program.

Local Practice Architecture + Design, BCIT and Okanagan College partner to provide an ‘ACE’ in the hole for future builders

Students in the Okanagan Valley will soon be able to register for a program designed to help young adults explore various career paths in architecture, construction management, and engineering, through a unique mix of classroom learning, online courses, and paid industry internships.

Supported by the Province of B.C.’s Workplace Innovation Fund, the Certificate in Essential Technical Skills for Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE Certificate), delivered by the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), will soon also be offered at Okanagan College (OC). 

"This initiative is all about building futures — both for learners and for the industries that support our economy, " explained OC Provost and Vice President Academic, Sam Lenci. "By educating learners with the in-demand technical knowledge and hands-on skills, we’re not only setting them up for employment — we’re setting them up for fulfilling, long-term careers. This partnership program is an investment in our learners and in the future of B.C.’s architecture, construction, and engineering sectors.”

The program, founded in 2024, was developed by Local Practice Architecture + Design in Vancouver, with BCIT as the educational partner. The program is funded under the Province’s Workplace Innovation Fund, an initiative of the StrongerBC: Future Ready Action Plan, which focuses on supporting innovative projects that address labour shortages, better prepare employers and workers for the changing economy, and attract, hire and retain a diverse workforce.

“There are approximately 10,950 civil engineers, 4,190 architects and 20,640 construction managers working throughout B.C.,” said Anne Kang, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “We know from B.C.’s annual Labour Market Outlook that these industries are all high opportunity occupations — which means that young people can expect lots of job openings in these fields over the next ten years. The ACE certificate will help train more workers for this critical sector."

One of the Workplace Innovation Fund’s objectives is to share innovative solutions to labour shortages or supply throughout B.C., which is why the ACE Certificate is expanding to the Okanagan. The Certificate is intended to provide entry-level skills and work experience to recent high school graduates, targeting those who might not typically pursue post-secondary education for financial or other reasons.

“This partnership with Okanagan College is another important step towards our goal of strengthening the entire construction ecosystem in B.C. and we are thrilled to have them on board,” said Matthew Woodruff, Principal and co-founder, Local Practice Architecture + Design. “Through this delivery partnership, the program will bring the benefits of an innovative educational model to the Okanagan.”

Students are provided with hands-on experience and foundational knowledge in the sector. Students will start with three in-person courses at Okanagan College's Kelowna campus in the summer of 2025, covering key ACE concepts like digital modelling, project management, communication and professionalism, and building technology.

“BCIT is committed to removing barriers and creating flexible pathways to education,” said BCIT Provost and Vice President Academic, Jennifer Figner. “This partnership with Okanagan College exemplifies the collaborative strength of post-secondary, industry and government in providing accessible, hands-on training that prepare learners for in-demand careers in the workforce.”

The program also includes two 23-weeks of paid Work-Integrated Learning (WIL) internships and online course studies. By the end of the 14-month program, students will have gained real-world experience, technical and career skills, and industry connections.

For the 2025/2026 program, student tuition is funded through the Workplace Innovation Fund. Local Practice Architecture + Design, BCIT, and OC gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through the Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills.

Applications are now open and will be accepted until June 15, 2025. Interested students may apply if they are about to graduate from grade 12 (and will be 18 years old by September) or if they graduated in 2023 or 2024.

A virtual information session for the program will take place on May 14 at 6 p.m. Contact [email protected] for the event link. For more information about the ACE Certificate program or to apply, visit okanagan.bc.ca/ace.

Okanagan businesses in the architecture, construction, or engineering sectors interested in becoming industry partners for the program can contact [email protected] or 250-862-5480.

SpokenWeb project breathes new life into Canada's poetic archives

UBCO SpokenWeb project team members Evan Berg, Myron Campbell and Karis Shearer work in the AMP Lab on the design aspects for the project.

For the past seven years, the SpokenWeb project at UBC Okanagan has processed a collection of literary audio files--digitizing and preserving hundreds of recordings that could have been lost to time.

The audio tapes have also been tagged with metadata, fully researched and made discoverable through web platforms.

Dr. Karis Shearer, Associate Professor of English and Cultural Studies at UBCO, explains that the audio recordings, many made between 1960 and 1980 by a number of internationally recognized BC poets, have become brittle and were in danger of being lost.

"The magnetic tapes are fragile objects, and over time the tapes degrade and are at risk of becoming unplayable," says Dr. Shearer, who has worked with a team of librarians, literary scholars, artists and students to preserve these recordings. "In the AMP Lab, we have the legacy technology to read and play these objects, so digitizing them allows us to hold on to that history."

Now that these literary collections are more accessible, it's time to make the collections public--to "re-sound" them, as Dr. Shearer says--and let them be used for research and teaching.

Next week, researchers and artists from across Canada are coming to Kelowna for a four-day program of discussions, workshops, performances and exhibitions hosted and organized by the SpokenWeb project. Named Re-Sounding Poetries: Collections, Classrooms, Communities, the event will also celebrate the preservation of these recordings.

The SpokenWeb is a partnership among 12 institutions across Canada, partially funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) of Canada. It has been dedicated, under the leadership of Concordia University professor Jason Camlot, to preserving these literary audio recordings on magnetic tape as well as researching and teaching with those tapes.

"In Western academic institutions, literary study has been mainly focused on print," explains Dr. Shearer, director of UBC's AMP Lab. "While the reading of poetry aloud has its own long history, it has never been a focus of the study and teaching of literature. Developing new and collaborative approaches to researching and teaching with sound has been the main focus of the SpokenWeb project over the past seven years and we're excited to share these methods with the wider community."

She notes that most tape recordings in this project haven't been listened to in decades, if ever. The collection has been digitized, and many tapes are being made available to the public to listen to for the first time on the SoundBox Collection website and at next week's Re-Sounding Poetries event.

Co-organized by Dr. Shearer and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Klara du Plessis, this immersive series of workshops will take place at UBC's Okanagan campus and downtown Kelowna from May 14 to 17.

During the four days of the immersive institute, Drs. Shearer and du Plessis are convening academics, archivists, librarians, artists and members of larger creative and teaching communities to exchange ideas, methods and art focused on the intersection of sound and literature.

"Re-Sounding Poetries will gather people from a variety of areas of expertise," explains Dr. du Plessis. "Collections of recorded poetry are best understood by bringing together these specialists including the archivists, librarians, scholars, artists, technicians, teachers and poets themselves."

The conference will offer panel discussions, workshops on podcasting and spoken word performances, with an open mic hosted by the Inspired Word Café. There will also be three exhibitions of archival materials and research projects, curated by UBCO doctoral student Slava Bart, Sarah Cipes who is currently working on her master's degree and UBCO alumna Erin Scott.

A workshop series, hosted at UBCO in the Creative and Critical Studies building, as well as the Special Collections and Archives located in The Commons, will have limited spots reserved for the public. These workshops take place May 16 starting at 10:30 am, and are available at a reduced rate of $35 for all of three.

"Our four-day gathering will function like an immersive summer camp experience for students, faculty and members of diverse communities to engage creatively and critically with archival audio," says Dr. Shearer. "The final product will be a diverse and innovative series of events for everyone."

Re-Sounding Poetries Sound Institute has received support from the Alternator Centre for Contemporary Art, Inspired Word Cafe, the Faculty of Creative and Critical Studies, UBC Okanagan Library and funding from a SSHRC Connection Grant.

For more information and to register for the full Re-Sounding Poetries Sound Institute or individual workshops, visit: events.ok.ubc.ca/event/re-sounding-poetries-collections-classrooms-communities.

The post SpokenWeb project breathes new life into Canada's poetic archives appeared first on UBC's Okanagan News.

Okanagan College, City of Kelowna partnership “game-changing”

With construction well underway on the new Okanagan College Don Folk and Family Recreation and Wellness Centre, the College and the City of Kelowna are announcing a new, game-changing partnership.

“We’re so excited for the Centre to open because it will mean students have incredible access to sports leagues, strength and mobility classes, wellness programs and so many other activities that help build connections and contribute to healthy lifestyles,” said Dr. Neil Fassina, OC president. “Working together with the City means we can provide the best options for OC students, and at the same time welcome others onto campus to be part of our College community, learn and grow.”

Under the partnership, the City has pledged $4 million toward construction of the Centre, which is allowing the College to expand the original design and build a larger facility, with more space for programming.

In addition, the College and the City are working together to see City recreation and leisure programming offered at the new facility, expanding access for students as well as the broader public.

“The new OC Recreation and Wellness Centre is built for team sports, fitness, recreation, and leisure, and will allow us to expand access to programs that strengthen both physical and social well-being,” said Mayor Tom Dyas. “We recognize how important it is for residents of all ages to have these opportunities across our city, and we are excited to partner with Okanagan College to bring our programs to the College campus — serving not only students, but also the surrounding Pandosy neighbourhood and the broader community.”

OC’s Recreation and Wellness Centre will be home to the OC Coyotes basketball and baseball community-based programs, as well as other student-focused activities, including Convocation and Commencement ceremonies. 

“We want people to be coming to campus and participating in College activities, connecting with students, and contributing to life at OC,” said Fassina. “For students, building relationships with others in the community is a way to network and experience more of what Kelowna has to offer.”

The first phase OC’s Recreation and Wellness Centre, which was announced by the College in 2023, includes a gymnasium and flexible spaces suitable for competitive and recreational sports, as well as an indoor running track and weight room. It is fully funded by community donors to the Okanagan College Foundation’s Thrive Here campaign, which has to date raised $13 million of its $14 million goal.

The additional $4 million contribution from the City has made it possible for an expansion, which includes additional multipurpose studios for group activities and fitness classes. 

Construction on the new Rec and Wellness Centre began last year and the pre-fabricated building is expected to be open in just over a year, in fall 2026.

Background:

When open, OC’s Recreation and Wellness Centre will include:

• Multipurpose gymnasium
• Competition-size court to accommodate a range of sport, recreational activities and community events, including OC convocation and commencement ceremonies
• Retractable spectator seating for 700+
• Fitness suite with state-of-the-art equipment
• Two lane suspended indoor walking/running track
• Multipurpose, flexible fitness studios

The Centre is being designed and constructed by two local firms, Meiklejohn Architects and TKI Construction.

Construction began offsite and the facility is being built using a prefabricated system delivered to Okanagan College to assemble onsite.

Groundbreaking occurred last spring, and today onsite work is well underway.

In 2023, the Folk family announced a transformational gift of $5 million, one of the largest-ever single donations to any college in B.C., prompting OC to name the Centre in their honour.

Don Folk, a long-time philanthropist and until 2015 the owner of Don Folk Chevrolet in Kelowna, said that playing sport and staying active is crucial to physical and mental wellbeing.

Many other local families and businesses have joined to help reach the community fundraising goal including Cliff and Lois Serwa, who contributed an incredible $1 million and the Torgerson Foundation with $500,000 - all inspired by the power of sport to foster connection and promote future success.

To learn more and to support the Thrive Here campaign, visit Okanagan.bc.ca/thrivehere.

Red Dress Day

Red Dress Day is a National Day of Remembrance and Activism honouring the lives of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirited People (MMIWG2S+). 

The red dress has become a symbol of loss for those who have been taken too soon, and a call to end violence against Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people.

On this day, red dresses are draped in trees, hung from windows, pinned to jackets, worn as earrings and red hands are painted across faces, to honour loved ones, participate as ally’s and fight for justice.

Red Dress Day is a time to remind us to prioritize healing and the Calls to Action as laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action and in Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

It is imperative that we continue to uplift and listen to the voices of Indigenous people and support self-determination of Indigenous communities in taking steps towards healing and justice. We also must address the root causes of violence, including colonialism, racism and misogyny. 

There is more information on Red Dress Day on the Amnesty International website. 

The ACTION Project provides support for female apprentices

With the recent celebration of Construction and Skilled Trades Month, Okanagan College is pleased to announce it has launched a new web page dedicated to supporting the retention of apprentices in the skilled trades, as part of its ongoing efforts to increase the number of people entering the skilled trades.

The ACTION Project website at okanagan.bc.ca/action is a dedicated online platform designed to connect female and gender-diverse apprentices in BC’s construction and manufacturing trades with critical supports and opportunities, including mentors who can help them succeed in their journey with real-world advice.

The ACTION Project (Apprenticeship Completion, Training, Innovative Opportunities and Networking) is funded in part by the Government of Canada’s Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy to encourage apprentice retention in the industry and the progression towards their Red Seal certification.

“I’m very excited to be part of the ACTION Project, with a focus on supporting female and gender-diverse apprentices in their journey through trades training,” said Sara Cousins, Okanagan College’s trades program manager. “It’s incredibly meaningful to be involved in a project that will involve so many of our partners and I cannot wait to see more females achieve their Red Seal. I want to thank all our partners for supporting this project to get off the ground.”

The ACTION project is one-to-one mentorship with industry professionals, networking events connecting apprentices with trades mentors, tuition-free certification and training, advanced skills training for more senior apprentices, bursaries for transportation, textbooks, personal protective equipment (PPE), and more for eligible participants.

The 8th annual proclamation of April as Construction and Skilled Trades Month in B.C. recognized the commitment and resilience of over 28,000 contractors and approximately 167,000 tradespeople across the province. These professionals are supported by a wide network of manufacturers, suppliers, engineers, trainers, and others form the backbone of BC’s built environment and economy.

“We know there is a shortage of skilled workers in the trades and our goal is to support everyone who wants to get into a great career in the skilled trades,” said Stephen Speers, head of OC’s Trades and Apprenticeship programs. “This project is a great example of how we can work with our partners, both in government and in the industry, to provide excellent training opportunities.”

Okanagan College offers the newest equipment and technologies in state-of-the-art training facilities located in Kelowna, Vernon, Salmon Arm, and Penticton. Find more information here.

Okanagan College will extend the mentorship program, launching Fall 2025, to apprentices of all genders in all trades programs.

B.C. declares provincial day of remembrance and mourning for victims of tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival

The Province of British Columbia has declared Friday, May 2, 2025, an official day of remembrance and mourning for the victims of the tragedy at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.  

Eleven people were killed and dozens more injured while celebrating Filipino culture and history in a senseless attack at the Lapu Lapu Day Festival in Vancouver. As people learn more about the victims, they are also learning that the victims’ loss is felt deeply across the province.

This tragedy has had profound impact on the Filipino community in B.C. and many others in Vancouver and throughout the province.

The day of remembrance and mourning is an opportunity for people in British Columbia to come together, grieve the loss of innocent lives and recognize the contributions the victims made to their communities and the province. It is also a time to offer comfort to all of those impacted, including those who have lost loved ones, those recovering and those who witnessed the horrific scene, and to offer deep appreciation to community partners, the police, paramedics and those working at the hospitals for their dedicated service at a trying time. Hundreds of volunteers and community members are also stepping up to help at a trying time.

What to know about available supports

People in British Columbia impacted by the tragic events at Vancouver’s Lapu Lapu Day Festival can access the following supports:

• Anyone who witnessed or experienced trauma at the event is encouraged to access resources through the VPD Victim Services Unit: 604 717-3321 and VictimLinkBC: call or text 1 800 563-0808, or email [email protected] to be connected to services that can help, including counselling resources. For details, visit: https://victimlinkbc.ca/
• ICBC supports are available for people who have been injured, as well as witnesses and the family members of those killed, including counselling. For more information, visit: https://icbc.com/about-icbc/newsroom/2025-04-27-lapu-lapu-tragedy
• B.C.’s crisis line at 310-6789 (no area code needed) is available for anyone who needs mental-health supports. Crisis lines provide immediate support in the moment, as well as connections to ongoing supports.
• Crime Victim Assistance Program benefits are available to victims, immediate family members and witnesses: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/justice/criminal-justice/bcs-criminal-justice-system/if-you-are-a-victim-of-a-crime/victim-of-crime/financial-assistance-benefits
• School districts are also taking action to support students, staff and families, including making more counsellors available. A list of resources has also been sent out to districts throughout the province to provide to students and their families looking for support.
• Supports are available for first responders and health-care workers who are on the front lines, and we encourage all workers to reach out to their employers and/or unions if they are struggling.
• BC Emergency Health Service’s (BCEHS) Critical Incident Management Stress team is providing mental-health and wellness support to employees who have been affected by these events in addition to the support provided by BCEHS leaders and supervisors.
• Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) staff and medical staff can contact the VCH Employee and Family Assistance Program to access confidential counselling and wellness any time, 24/7.

The Ministry of Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) is working closely with the City of Vancouver and meeting with Filipino BC, the Vancouver Emergency Management Agency (VEMA), the Red Cross, United Way and other partners to identify further supports required.

Those wishing to sign the book of condolences for victims of this tragedy can visit the Hall of Honour at the B.C. legislature or visit: https://submit.digital.gov.bc.ca/app/form/submit?f=f4944988-5402-45a8-bb9c-7b2a95f928d9