VANCOUVER – A report on the safety of festivals and other celebrations in British Columbia says all public events, regardless of size, should be supported by a risk assessment.
It’s among several recommendations made by a former B.C. Supreme Court chief justice appointed after a vehicle raced down a Vancouver street during the Lapu Lapu Day festival in April, killing 11 and injuring dozens more.
The report by Christopher Hinkson makes six recommendations aimed at improving safety at all types of events, including development of a provincial hub for information and advice, stronger inter-agency co-ordination, and more accessible education and planning resources.
Terry Yung, the minister of state for community safety and integrated services, released the report on Wednesday.
He said the government fully accepted the intent of the recommendations, but didn’t say when they would be implemented.
“We’ll move on this as fast as we can,” he said.
“It’s important to understand, in light of the tragic event, and easy to be overwhelmed by emotions … the report said the vast majority of public events in this province are safe, they’re well organized and they’re widely enjoyed.”
While some events have access to professional support, the report says many celebrations rely on volunteers with little training or funding, and rather than impose rigid rules, the report says steps need to be taken for consistency and confidence in hosting gatherings.
Adam Kai-Ji Lo has been charged with multiple counts of second-degree murder over the Lapu Lapu festival attack and his next court appearance for a fitness hearing is on July 23.
The City of Vancouver and police issued a preliminary report in May, saying planning for the festival appeared to have followed prescribed processes despite not having heavy vehicle barriers in place.
It said police did not recommend higher security due to the 2024 festival being deemed a low risk, and police had said previously that only nine of the 3,200 events in Vancouver used heavy vehicle barriers.
Hinkson’s report says hostile vehicle attacks aren’t the only risk, noting event organizers pointed out safety concerns over food and water adulteration, and an alleged attack at a music festival in France where 145 people reported being pricked by syringes.
The report says there’s “a trade-off between ensuring that event attendees are protected from hostile or unintentional vehicle incidents while at the same time allowing special events to continue unabated.”
For his report, Hinkson says he consulted with municipalities, regional districts, Indigenous groups, police, and event organizers, representing a wide range of communities — from large urban centres to remote rural regions.
The report says their consultations found both strengths and vulnerabilities.
“Many communities have built strong working relationships between local governments, first responders, and community organizations to support safe and successful events,” the report says.
However, smaller or under-resourced jurisdictions face persistent challenges, including limited staff, rising costs for equipment and security, unclear lines of responsibility, and difficulty navigating overlapping jurisdictions or fragmented guidance, it says.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.
