Open this photo in gallery: People pay their respects at a vigil near the site of the Lapu Lapu festival tragedy in Vancouver, on April 29.Jimmy Jeong/The Globe and Mail It began as a sunny spring Saturday. Thousands had gathered in East Vancouver for the second annual celebration of the Filipino hero Lapu-Lapu. It ended in grief and devastation when, just after 8 p.m., a speeding SUV allegedly driven by Kai-Ji Adam Lo — a 30-year-old charged Sunday with eight counts of murder — plowed into a crowd. In all, 11 people were killed. Dozens more were injured. The youngest was a five-year-old girl, the oldest, a 65-year-old man. Many among them had come to Canada in search of safety, peace and better futures, having fled violence and persecution in their homelands. These are their stories. Kira Salim Open this photo in gallery: A former high school music teacher in Brazil, Kira Salim earned a master‘s degree in psychology, and last fall, began working as a counsellor at Fraser River Middle School.Supplied Kira Salim moved to Canada from Brazil three years ago, in search of a safer life as a trans and non-binary person. Within six months, Mx. Salim had changed their name, chopped their hair short, and began experimenting with a more androgynous style. At 6’2, Mx. Salim brought their striking looks and energy to performance as a drag king, model, and lead singer of the band Bloco Marcha Nerd. In recent months, Mx. Salim, 34, had taken up roller skating and voguing, and got a driver‘s licence and bought a car with their husband, Kim Gutman, to hike and explore the province. A former high school music teacher in Brazil, Mx. Salim earned a master‘s degree in psychology, and last fall, began working as a counsellor at Fraser River Middle School, where they were beloved by their students. “They were doing the thing they came for. It was all happening,” said friend Nadia Sorban. “And they were so happy. Rizza Azzir Pagkanlungan Open this photo in gallery: Rizza Azzir Pagkanlungan and her husband moved to Winnipeg from the Philippines in search of a better life, then went on to Vancouver to be closer to family, and 'be surrounded by love and support.'Photo via GoFundMe To know Rizza Azzir Pagkanlungan was to truly love her, according to her cousin, Shelby Anne Marie Pacumio. She says Ms. Pagkanlungan and her husband moved to Winnipeg from the Philippines in search of a better life, then went on to Vancouver to be closer to family, and “be surrounded by love and support.” “She was the sweetest soul, kind-hearted, humble, and hardworking person,” Ms. Pacumio wrote, on a GoFundMe page raising money to have Ms. Pagkanlungan’s remains returned home to the Philippines. Photos posted by loved ones on Facebook show Ms. Pagkanlungan out and about in Vancouver and spending time with her family, including smiling with her husband in the crowd at the festival’s closing concert on Saturday evening, moments before the attack. “My heart is shattered by this unimaginable loss,” her husband, Rome Pagkanlungan wrote. “She was not only my wife, but also my best friend. The Love of my life.” Glitza Maria Caicedo, Daniel Samper, Glitza Daniela Samper Open this photo in gallery: Mother Glitza Maria Caicedo, left, father Daniel Samper, centre, and daughter Glitza Daniela, centre-right. In the early 2000s, four members of the Caicedo-Samper family fled their native Colombia in search of a new life in B.C.Photo via GoFundMe In the early 2000s, four members of the Caicedo-Samper family fled their native Colombia — leaving behind everyone and everything they knew — in search of safety, and a new life in B.C. On Saturday, Glitza Caicedo, her husband Daniel Samper, and their daughter Glitza Samper were killed in the Lapu-Lapu attack. “I’m just destroyed. My whole world’s taken away from me,” said Alejandro Samper, the remaining member of the family. He said Mr. Samper was quiet and sweet and devoted to his wife. Ms. Caicedo, lovingly known as Bachita, was extremely close to both her children. The younger Glitza, 30, was an animal lover, who worked as a veterinary’s assistant and dog walker. She was “beyond devoted” to her mom and dad, said Courtney Faulkner, a close friend. She was about to launch her own dog walking company, Brave Paws, partly to help support them. “If sunshine were a person, that was Glitza in human form,” said Ms. Faulkner. She was known for sending voice messages to friends telling them how special they were, and how much they meant to her. “Canada is supposed to be a safe place,” Mr. Samper said. “It’s unacceptable this was allowed to happen.” Richard Le, Linh Hoang, and Katie Le Open this photo in gallery: Richard Le, left, Linh Hoang, right, and Katie Le, centre. Toan Le, Richard's brother, described him as a devoted father, a gifted badminton and tennis player, and a passionate coach who 'found joy in training and mentoring his students.'Photo via GoFundMe Richard Le was at the block party with his wife Linh Hoang and their five-year-old daughter Katie, his brother, Toan Le told The Globe. At 8:06 p.m., he texted his 16-year-old son Andy, who had stayed home to finish his homework, telling him they were on their way home. The three were killed minutes later. Mr. Le described his brother, a realtor, as a devoted father, a gifted badminton and tennis player, and a passionate coach who “found joy in training and mentoring his students.” His surviving son Andy plays competitively on Canada‘s junior badminton circuit, and was often seen playing doubles with his dad at the Vancouver Racquets Club. Mr. Le was devoted to his son, and helping develop his game, said Andy Zhu, president of Badminton B.C., who used to see the two together at tournaments. “The badminton community is like a big family. We are absolutely heartbroken by this. We all feel the impact of the tragedy.” Mr. Le said that Linh was the love of his brother‘s life — caring, kind and devoted. “She was not only an incredible mother and wife but also the heart and guiding light of the family, known for her warmth and culinary talents.” Mr. Le described his niece Katie as a “radiant spirit — full of energy, laughter, and love — a true joy.” Her presence lit up every room. “Just cherish your loved ones and your friends, family — you never know when they might not be around and you won’t have a second chance,” Mr. Le added. “Take advantage of the time you have — and cherish those people that you love.” Jendhel May Sico Open this photo in gallery: In social media posts, friends remembered Jendhel May Sico as a loving, smart, kind person who had an impact on many people’s lives.Photo via GoFundMe In the midst of the crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Block Party on Saturday night, Jendhel Sico can be seen in a photo smiling broadly, flashing peace signs to the camera with both hands. “Jendhel was kind-hearted with a beautiful soul. She lived her life to the fullest,” writes her sister, Maydhel Sico, on a GoFundMe page for funeral expenses. “She always had a smile on her face and everyone that knows her would agree that she brought positivity to everyone she met.” Ms. Sico worked at Burnaby, B.C.-based Taiga Building Products. On social media, she describes training for her first 5k, half marathon and marathon last year. In social media posts, friends remembered Ms. Sico as a loving, smart, kind person who had an impact on many people’s lives. “She was such a bright and lovely person who was so full of energy,” one friend wrote. “So the world is less magical now that she’s gone.” Maria Victoria (Vicky) Bjarnason Open this photo in gallery: Vicky Bjarnason raised her sons in Cavite, south of Manila, working as a flight attendant and realtor, and doing anything else she could to give them the best possible life.Photo via GoFundMe Vicky Bjarnason travelled from her home in the Philippines six weeks ago to visit her sons and stepsons in Vancouver. Her sons were her greatest love, and she split her time equally between the men she still called her boys — Thor, Helgi, Stefan and Kristjan. Vicky raised her sons in Cavite, south of Manila, working as a flight attendant and realtor, and doing anything else she could to give them the best possible life. At 56, Ms. Bjarnason was so exuberant it seemed to her boys, and others, she never tired. Camping for the first time, she chopped wood like a natural, played cards until midnight, and the next day went floating in the frigid sea. Tubing in the snow at Cypress Mountain, she went flying down the hill, again and again. She was holding hands with her son, Helgi, as they walked through the Lapu-Lapu festival Saturday night. “I know she would have chosen for me to live — without a doubt in her mind,” he said. Jenifer Darbellay Open this photo in gallery: In her painting, Jenifer Darbellay was drawn to motifs of angels, women and nature, and found special inspiration in her son, Ford, 15, and her daughter, Darby, 7.Photo via GoFundMe Jenifer Darbellay was the light of every room, a painter and theatre designer who filled her home with art, and brought every space to life with her loud, joyous laugh. Ms. Darbellay’s husband, Noel Johansen, said she grew up in Calgary, where her interest in art was nurtured from a young age by her mother, also an artist. In her painting, Ms. Darbellay was drawn to motifs of angels, women and nature, and found special inspiration in her son, Ford, 15, and her daughter, Darby, 7. “She encouraged us to always be whimsical and silly,” Ford said. Mr. Johansen described his wife as an extraordinary and selfless woman who had many friends, and will be remembered for her kindness. “If she was here, she would want us to forgive this man who caused this,” he said. “I’m trying to follow her philosophy of kindness and being forgiving, but I just don’t want this to ever happen again.” With reports from The Canadian Press