Teacher identified as one of 11 killed in Vancouver festival attack

By Canadian Press on April 28, 2025.

VANCOUVER — A teacher-counsellor has been identified as one of the 11 people killed in a vehicle ramming at a Filipino festival in Vancouver on the weekend.

A statement from the superintendent at the New Westminster school district says Kira Salim was among those who died at the Lapu Lapu Day festival on Saturday night.

Eleven people were killed and 32 others were sent to hospitals across the Lower Mainland, some of them remain in critical or serious condition.

The statement says Salim was a valued member of their community whose wisdom and care for middle- and secondary-school students had a powerful impact.

It says the loss of their friend and colleague has left them all shocked and heartbroken.

The suspect in the attack has been charged with eight counts of second-degree murder and Vancouver police say more charges will likely come when more victims are identified.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 28, 2025.

The Canadian Press