VANCOUVER Mayor Ken Sim, in response to the release of the preliminary Joint Review of Outdoor Special Events Planning and Safety on Friday, said that the City and Vancouver Police are developing new tools to better evaluate events, updating a centralized database to track and monitor risks, and deploying new mobile vehicle barriers.
He said: “We are also working closely with organizers to reassess upcoming events and will review and consider recommendations from the Province’s Commission of Inquiry into our final report this summer.”
Sim said in a statement: “April 26 marked one of the darkest moments in Vancouver’s history. The following day, I called for an immediate joint review by the City of Vancouver and the Vancouver Police Department to better understand what happened, and to identify how we can strengthen our systems to better protect public safety moving forward.
“The preliminary report released today is the first step. It provides a clear overview of how public events are planned in Vancouver, the preparations that were in place ahead of the Lapu Lapu Day festival, and the safety improvements already underway.
“The Preliminary Report, and information gathered to-date, indicates that proper planning processes were followed, including multiple reviews, site walks, and coordination with first responders. But this tragedy has made one thing clear: we need to go further. We must rethink how we assess risk, how we respond to evolving threats, and how we ensure that people feel safe when gathering in public spaces.”
Sim added: “The public deserves answers, but more importantly, they deserve to know that real action is being taken to keep people safe. That is the work ahead of us, and that is what we are committed to doing.”
At the Lapu Lapu Day festival tragedy memorial.
Photo by SUKHWANT SINGH DHILLON
THE City announced that it has along with the Vancouver Police Department initiated a joint review of planning processes and safety protocols for City-permitted special events in outdoor public spaces, following the tragic events after the Lapu Lapu Day Block Party on April 26, 2025.
The joint review consists of a Preliminary Report, released Friday, which will be followed by a Final Report later this summer. The Preliminary Report focuses on three key areas:
- Section One outlines in detail how the City currently supports special events’ organizers, coordinating a multi-agency effort involving multiple City departments, police, fire and a range of external agencies and partners.
- Section Two examines how the prescribed special event planning process was applied to the 2025 Lapu Lapu Day Block Party. Based on the documents reviewed, the report suggests that the standard special event planning process was followed, all the requirements were met, and the planning process included all the relevant partners.
- Section Three outlines preliminary, immediate and potential future changes that can be implemented to ensure special events remain safe in the future. For example, new mobile vehicle barriers will be used at select special events based on specific criteria to reduce the risk of vehicle-related incidents, whether accidental or intentional.
The City and VPD will issue a Final Report that will expand on these areas as new information becomes available. The Final Report will also provide a more in-depth analysis of key themes, including:
- A deeper analysis of existing regulations, policies, and procedures for planning outdoor special events.
- Recommendations for regulatory or procedural changes to address intentional and unintentional vehicle incursions.
- Considerations for broader public realm design and management to enhance public safety.
The Final Report will be issued to the public no later than August 27.
The Province’s related Commission of Inquiry report on public event safety is due on June 30 and is expected to provide additional guidance on enhancing event safety. That guidance will be a consideration for the final City and VPD report and will inform future event planning.
