Candlelight vigil in Kelowna tonight to honour those killed at Filipino festival in Vancouver

Ben Lee Park in Kelowna will be quietly and somberly illuminated tonight at 6:30 pm.

That's when the Okanagan Filipino Canadian Society will host a candlelight vigil to honor those killed at Saturday night's Lapu Lapu Festival in Vancouver.

"This tragedy has shaken our community to its core," said Okanagan Filipino Canadian Society president Bella Mockford.

"We are gathering for (the) vigil to remember the lives lost, to grieve together and to find strength in one another."

While organized by the Filipino society, anyone who wants to pay their respects is welcome.

Ben Lee Park is in Rutland and can be accessed off Houghton, Leathead and Franklyn roads or McPhee Street.

Those attending are asked to bring their own candles to light and white flowers for offerings.

Eleven people are dead and many more injured after a SUV rammed the crowd at the Filipino street festival in Vancouver.

Adam Kai-Ji Lo, 30, has been arrested and charged with eight counts of second-degree murder.

More charges are expected.

Lo was on leave from a Mental Health Act supervised care program at the time of the tragedy.

The BC government has also launched a public inquiry into the mass murder.

"As immigrants, we have built our lives and our community here in Canada and we are deeply thankful for the support and solidarity we have received from the wider community in the wake of this tragedy," said Mockford.

"We hope that by coming together, we can honour the lives of our fellow community and family members who have been affected."

The Okanagan Filipino Canadian Society is affiliated with the larger Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association.

"Our hearts are broken alongside the Filipino community as we mourn this unimaginable loss," said Fei Liu, executive director of the Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association.

"We will join our partners at the Okanagan Filipino Canadian Society for a vigil to honour the victims and show our unwavering support. The Filipino community has been integral in helping us weave the very fabric of our shared home."

May is Asian Heritage Month and the Okanagan Chinese Canadian Association is kicking it off with an opening forum on May 3 at 2 pm at Metro Hub at 1265 Ellis St. in downtown Kelowna.

A moment of silence will be observed at the start of the forum to commemorate those killed at the street festival and signal that the Filipino and wider Asian communities stand together in grief, remembrance and solidarity.