Statement of Solidarity with Community in Mourning
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Beth Dollaga, who attends Peninsula United and is also the Secretary General for the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP) Canada Chapter, has shared this message with us following the tragedy at the Lapu-Lapu Festival:
We pray for the Great Spirit to bring comfort, grace, and healing to the victims, their families, and the grieving community.
When a tragic event happens, the conversation often shifts quickly to whether the individual responsible had a mental illness. While this is an important aspect of understanding the event, it can detract from the broader systemic problems. Mental illness, though common, is frequently used as a narrative that simplifies and overlooks the root causes, often embedded in social, economic, and political systems that perpetuate inequality, neglect, and alienation.
We call on the Canadian government to confront systemic failures, such as lack of mental health care, inequality, and stigma that fuel crises. We urge them to implement real structural changes by strengthening community support, ensuring early intervention, and addressing root causes.
A prayer vigil will be planned for the South Surrey/White Rock community for collective mourning where we can pray, offer words of comfort, encouragement and hope amid such a tragic loss of life.
Thank you again for your compassion and prayers,
Beth