Friends of victim of Lapu-Lapu tragedy support benefit concert but wish city had involved the community [Video]

Jada Stevens says she’s looking forward to celebrating the life of her friend, Kira Salim, at the end of this month.

“We want to bring in all of the facets of Kira that made them a completely wonderful person,” Stevens said from her Vancouver home.

“So we’re going to be bringing in their Brazilian culture. We’re going to be bringing in the LGBTQ community. We have drag performances. [Drag performer] Kendall Gender is going to be there.”

Salim, 34, was one of 11 people killed when a car rammed through the crowd at the Lapu-Lapu Day festival in East Vancouver on April 26. 

Stevens says she’s been grieving with Salim’s loved ones in Vancouver since, supporting one another through the process and planning a celebration of life for their friend, which they’re holding on June 22.