after losing family at lapu lapu day tragedy, man starts non-profit
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alejandro samper, with a photograph of his mother, glitza, his father daniel and sister nena, who were killed in the lapu lapu day tragedy.
nick procaylo
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since the night of april 26, when a vehicle-ramming attack at vancouver’s lapu lapu day festival killed his beloved mother, father and sister, alejandro samper has been in a living hell.
now he is in the process of developing a non-profit organization dedicated to helping others heal from life-changing trauma and grief.
the samper caicedo legacy, founded in memory of his mom, dad and sister, will create community-based art, music, sport and wellness, including retreats, camps and workshops that focus on healing.
“the idea is to encourage people to learn about self-expression through creative outlets, where they can express whatever trauma or pain they are going through, heal and gain a sense of belonging and resilience,” said samper, 34.
samper understands grief. he is living it every day.
samper rushed to the scene of the lapu lapu day tragedy after getting a call from his sister’s fiance, but was stopped by police tape. he learned that his sister had been taken to vancouver general hospital with a head injury.
“she died in front of my eyes,” he said.
he later learned that his parents had been killed instantly. because of the police investigation, he was barred from seeing them to say farewell.
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“life is not the same anymore. i don’t find joy anymore, i don’t find purpose, i am very broken,” said samper, who didn’t attend the festival because he was working that night.
that evening was a family outing he would have joined: “i was very close with my family. we saw each other every weekend.”
from left: alejandro samper, his sister nena samper, his mother glitza caicedo and his father daniel samper are shown in this undated handout photograph.
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the canadian press
the lapu lapu day festival was vancouver’s deadliest attack. eleven people were killed and at least three dozen injured when someone drove at high speed along east 43rd avenue west of fraser street, where festivalgoers were gathered.
the samper family emigrated to vancouver when samper was 11, hoping to find a better life and leave behind the violence in colombia.
“my parents sacrificed everything in colombia — their careers, their lifestyle — to give us a better future here in canada,” he said. “canada is supposed to be a safe place.”
samper said he still grapples to understand why there weren’t enough barricades or security, and why the accused person didn’t get the mental-health supports he needed.
“the problem is much larger than one person driving a car into a crowd,” said samper.
samper wants to bring change, in the only way he knows how: by honouring his family’s legacy of community-based action and kindness. he is an event producer, deeply steeped in the lower mainland’s entertainment and music scene.
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his mom, glitza, encouraged him to follow his dream when he left his career as a mechanical engineer at triumf, canada’s particle accelerator centre, to start his own arts production company, soluna.
“she was my no. 1 fan, and always came to my art installations and events,” samper said.
alejandro samper with a photo of his mother, glitza, his father, daniel, and sister, nena, who were killed in the lapu lapu day tragedy.
nick procaylo
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samper said he has drawn inspiration from his family. his mother was his “anchor,” who was generous and community-driven. his father, daniel, was his “guide, protector and best friend.” and his sister, nena, was artistic, a lover of animals, “who made everyone feel seen, valued and loved.”
“i want to honour them with the things they taught me,” said samper.
this summer, while “drowning in pain,” samper sought solace and community through the arts. he worked at the shambala music festival and attended the yoga and dance festival, rise wellness.
“they were very healing and releasing. i still cried, and i still felt pain, but either you stay home drowning in your own pain or you seek to find relief in community and art,” said samper.
he credits the support of the arts community, his girlfriend, eve vychuzhyna, and his extended family here and in colombia for helping him face every dark day.
“with this non-profit, i am hoping to find my own peace and light, and share it with others,” said samper.
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in the non-profit’s constitution, their mission includes providing affordable, accessible events, fostering belonging and reducing isolation through community engagement, and help those affected by deep psychological distress and trauma rebuild their lives.
“before i die i would be happy to know i helped one person,” samper said.
donations in support of the samper caicedo legacy can be made through the website, sampercaceidolegacy.com.
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