Dealing with the Lupa Lupa Festival Tragedy

Alyson Jones, MA, RCC-ACS Registered Clinical Counsellor

We are all so saddened by the tragedy at the Lupa Lupa Festival in Vancouver on April 26, 2025.  When these shocking things happen, we need to come together and support each other as that is the basis of community and compassion.  We need to meet the worst of humanity with the best of humanity.

So how do we help our young people feel secure when our world has been shaken?  How do we help children make sense of something that does not make sense to us?  There is much we will need to process around this horrific event, but here are some tips to help yourself and your children as we respond to the aftermath of this tragedy.

1. Talk to your children. Do not brush this under the rug.  This will be a source of discussion at school and other events.  Children of all ages will be discussing this tragedy. 
2. Denial of a “bad thing” never makes it better. Our children need to talk about this event; it is their country and their world too.  It is natural to pull together and discuss things that frighten and disturb us.
3. Check in with each other, check in with your children. Ask your children what they have heard and what they understand about the tragedy?  Find out what they know before you provide your information.
4. Provide age-appropriate information. The types of discussions you have with your child will depend upon their age and what they have heard already.
5. Turn away from Social Media, TV and turn towards each other. We all need information and will be drawn to learn more about this on television and social media.  We cannot protect our children from the news out there, but we can still be in the lead with helping them know when to shut the information down.  Gauge what is age appropriate and do not get lost in the news yourself.  Stay sensitive to your children and remember some information alleviates anxiety, but too much information just overwhelms.
6. Provide a brief overview. If they have not heard about this incident, which is unlikely, provide them with some information.  Let them know that a man drove in a group of people at the Lupa Lupa festival in Vancouver and people were hurt and killed. If you feel it is age appropriate you can let them know that this man was known to have mental health issues and these issues appear to have not been treated and sadly, he did hurt people.  Mental health issues do not make us hurt other people, but if somebody is not being treated for destructive thoughts sometimes, they do destructive things.  Let them know that responsible authorities are looking after the situation and the man has been taken into custody by the police.
7. Let your children ask questions. You will not have an answer to every question but just letting them ask is healthy and moves emotions forward.
8. Do not rush to try to rush you are your children to feel better. Give the feelings associated with this “airplay”.  It is natural to be angry and scared in this situation.  Let your children get their feelings out.  Talk about the feelings and let them know you feel those same things but that feelings move and change.
9. Emphasis your connection. Connection with others always makes us feel better during upsetting time.  Reach out to your children and let them know they can reach out to you and others.
10. Look to the helpers. Tell your children there are way more good people than bad.  Let your children know that people pull together during these difficult times.  Remind yourself of this as well.  The First Responders and the people close by did an amazing job in responding and keeping others safe.  Something like this also brings out the best in human nature as so many people are helping those that are affected and suffering.
11. Rely on Structure. Remind your children that there are procedures and protocols in place, and they can rely on the adults that are responding and doing their job.  Return to your regular routine as this alleviates anxiety.
12. We cannot pretend that the world is a perfect place. The world is a complicated place filled with pain and joy, but we can have heartfelt conversations with our children about tragedy. It is still a good world, although a complicated one, and bad things can happen in a good world.
    These types of honest conversations can lead to more intimate and authentic relationships between ourselves and our children.

13. When faced with the worst we need to turn towards the best.  Give your children a hug, let them know that they are loved, and you are there for them.  Turn to love as it remains the most powerful of all emotions and the best of humanity.