'Brings us closer': Chinatown leaders look ahead after triple stabbing
The Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is gearing up for its upcoming Mid-Autumn Moon festivities at the end of the month.
On the minds of organizers is the triple stabbing that happened less than a week ago at the Light Up Chinatown! festival, located across the street from the garden.
Lorraine Lowe, executive director of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, was just steps away when a couple in their 60s and a woman in her 20s were stabbed.
She said the scene was more subdued than chaotic.
“There was some confusion and then about moments later, we just heard some rumblings about some people getting stabbed. So everything was handled really well; the police were on top of it, got on the radio and attended to the victims,” she said.
Blair Evan Donnelly, 64, has been charged with three counts of aggravated assault. He was out on a day pass from the Forensic Psychiatric Hospital in Coquitlam.
“This was an isolated incident. The individual had a day pass, and it has absolutely nothing to do -- at least to my knowledge at the moment – that it had anything to do with an attack on the actual community,” Lowe said.
Since the random attack, Jordan Eng, president of the Chinatown BIA, said people have been sending messages of support.
“It's really heartwarming that, you know, we've had this outpouring of support to the neighbourhood businesses and communities,” Eng said.
Eng highlights how Chinatown has its own security guards and has a Safe Walk program.
37TH ANNUAL FESTIVAL TO BE BIGGEST ONE YET
The 37th Mid-Autumn Moon Festival will take place Sept. 29 and 30 between 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
This year’s theme is dubbed A Circus of Dreams.
There will be roving acts from circus performers, musical performances on the main stage and various arts and cultural activities throughout the venue.
“We've really stepped up security and we are in a gated, secured premise here. So, I think it's important to invite everybody to come back down and you know what, not be afraid to celebrate Chinatown,” Lowe said.
She said the biggest difference is this festival will be a ticketed, registered event.
She hopes to see a big crowd for its biggest Mid-Autumn Festival celebration to date.
“There's obviously a silver lining in all of this. It always brings the community back together. And it brings us closer and more resilient,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump confronts repeated boos during raucous Libertarian convention speech
Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing Saturday night’s Libertarian Party National Convention.
This type of screen time has the worst effect on kids: experts
According to some experts, there is one type of screen time that is continuously excessive, and it's having a severe effect on our children.
Family of toddler found dead at small-town Ont. daycare no closer to answers after year of investigation
A year has passed since two-year-old Vienna Irwin was found on the property of a home-based daycare in small-town Ontario, but her family says they are no closer to answers of what happened that day.
Grayson Murray, two-time PGA Tour winner, dead at 30
Two-time PGA Tour winner Grayson Murray died Saturday morning at age 30, one day after he withdrew from the Charles Schwab Cup Challenge at Colonial.
Humboldt Broncos crash victims and families react to decision to deport truck driver
The family of one of the victims of the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018 says they are 'thankful' for a decision by a Calgary immigration board to deport the driver of the truck involved.
Fatal plane crash reported near Squamish, B.C.
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is working with local Mounties and the BC Coroners Service after a plane crash near Squamish, B.C. Friday night.
'God forgives but we don’t': Loud outburst from stabbing victim’s family during sentencing hearing
An emotional outburst in a London, Ont. courtroom Friday disrupted the sentencing hearing of a woman who pleaded guilty for her part in the death of 29-year-old Mohammed Abdallah.
Three dead after vehicle plunged down a 100-foot embankment in Shediac, N.B.
Three people have died after a vehicle veered off the road in Shediac N.B., Friday morning.
Appeal denied for Edmonton soldier accused of trying to kill her 3 children
An Edmonton woman found guilty of trying to kill her three children has been denied an appeal.