A 72-year-old semi-retiree, out for a morning run, reflected on the similarities between the recent Vancouver attack and a 2018 tragedy in Toronto when a man driving a van killed 11 people.
“So it has occurred before, but I fear for the society that we live in, that these things can happen,” he said.
Saturday’s event had been a lively celebration featuring a parade, film screening, dancing, and a concert, with two members of the Black Eyed Peas among the performers.
The gathering marked Lapu Lapu Day, a Philippine holiday honoring Indigenous chief Lapulapu, who defeated Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in 1521.
Vancouver police described the incident as “the darkest day in our city’s history.”
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Britain’s King Charles III, Canada’s head of state, expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, saying he was “profoundly saddened” by the loss of life.
Meanwhile, Canadians are preparing to vote in an election centered on issues like rising living costs and relations with the United States. Candidate Carney is seen as the favorite, promising to protect Canadian interests against Washington’s tariffs and aggressive policies.