'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
BREAKING Poilievre kicked out of Commons after calling Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'wacko'
Testy exchanges between the prime minister and his chief opponent ended with the Opposition leader and one of his MPs being ejected from the House of Commons on Tuesday -- and the rest of Conservative caucus walking out of the chamber in protest.
Baby, grandparents among 4 people killed in wrong-way police chase on Ontario's Hwy. 401
A police chase which started with a liquor store robbery in Bowmanville Monday night ended in tragedy some 20 minutes later when a suspect fleeing police entered Highway 401 in the wrong direction and caused a pileup which killed an infant and the child's grandparents, as well as the suspect, investigators say.
Man dies after suffering cardiac arrest while waiting in ER, widow wants investigation
When an ambulance took David Lippert to the hospital in March of 2023, the 68-year-old Kitchener, Ont., executive was hoping to find out why he was feeling weak and unable to walk. Some 24 hours later, he was found unresponsive in the ER.
Sword-wielding man attacks passersby in London, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring 4 others
A man wielding a sword attacked members of the public and police officers in a northeast London suburb Tuesday, killing a 14-year-old boy and injuring four other people, British authorities said.
Conservatives push motion calling for Carney to testify, say it's about 'accountability'
The federal Conservatives made good on their promise to push for former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney to testify before MPs, resulting in a heated political debate in Ottawa on Tuesday.
Freeland previews omnibus budget bill, proposed capital gains tax change left out
Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland will be tabling yet another omnibus bill to pass a sweeping range of measures promised in her April 16 federal budget, though left out of the legislation will be the government's proposed capital gains tax change.
WATCH Arnold Schwarzenegger spotted filming in Elora, Ont.
The name of the project has not been officially released although it’s widely believed to be the Netflix series FUBAR.
London Drugs stores remain closed, 'cybersecurity incident' may have breached personal data
London Drugs says it is working with third-party security experts as the company tries to reopen dozens of stores across Western Canada that were shuttered by a cybersecurity incident Sunday.
McGill requests 'police assistance' over pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University says it has 'requested police assistance' about the pro-Palestinian encampment on its lower field.