On 27 April 2025, a devastating mass casualty incident struck the Lapu Lapu Day community festival in Vancouver, a tragedy that shattered a celebration of Filipino heritage. In the wake of this event, many victims’ immediate family members — both in Canada and abroad — are desperate to reunite, attend funerals, or support loved ones in recovery.
Heron Law Offices extends its deepest condolences to all affected and calls on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to urgently implement special immigration measures to support these families.
Why Immediate Action Is Needed
The average processing time for a visitor visa from the Philippines is 22 days, and 97 days for a super visa. Such timelines are unacceptable in the context of a mass tragedy. Grieving families should not be burdened with lengthy applications, excessive documentation, or prohibitive costs.
While many victims are likely of Filipino heritage, the full list of those impacted has not yet been released. Therefore, any immigration measures that are introduced must be inclusive of impacted families from all countries.
Canada’s Tradition of Compassion
Canada has a strong history of responding to crises with special immigration measures. Examples include:
- Flight PS752 and ET302: Special immigration pathways and fast-tracked visas for families of victims.
- Beirut Explosion (2020): Prioritized visas and fee waivers for impacted families.
- CUAET Program (Ukraine Crisis 2022): Emergency pathways to temporary residence for displaced Ukrainians.
Domestically, IRCC has also provided immigration support during events such as the British Columbia floods and wildfires in 2021 and 2024 respectively.
In 2024, IRCC formalized its humanitarian response through a new Crisis Response Framework (CRF), aiming for faster, flexible actions during crises like this one. New Zealand is also among the countries adopting such special measures for similar incidents. Following the mass shooting at the Masjid Al Noor and Linwood mosques in Christchurch in 2019, the New Zealand government introduced immigration measures to prioritize applications for the families of those killed or injured. Staff also worked to assist victims who were in New Zealand on temporary visas.
What IRCC Should Do Now
We respectfully urge IRCC to:
- Prioritize visa processing for victims’ families;
- Simplify application requirements and waive fees;
- Issue Temporary Resident Permits where needed;
- Provide clear communication channels for affected families.
Heron Law Offices: Offering Pro Bono Help
In response to this tragedy, Heron Law Offices is offering free half an hour immigration consultation to those victims (and family members of victims) seeking support with their temporary resident and permanent resident applications.
We encourage those affected — or their loved ones — to reach out to us and share this message with anyone in need. We invite immigration lawyers from other law firms to contact us to collaborate on this initiative.
