Actor Noel Johansen fought back tears as he paid tribute to his wife, Jenifer Darbellay, at a vigil for victims of a deadly attack at Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Day festival. Darbellay, 50, was among 11 people killed when a driver deliberately plowed an SUV into the crowd last week. Johansen, injured in the attack, spoke bravely while standing beside his 7-year-old daughter, Darby, who was also hurt. The Montreal-born actor, known for his roles in Hallmark Channel productions, addressed the somber gathering on crutches.
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"This injury means nothing to me," Johansen said, his voice trembling. "What's inside my heart is broken. My wife passed away behind me in the incident." His 15-year-old son, Ford, also survives Darbellay, a beloved costume designer.
A Life of Selflessness
Johansen described Darbellay as a woman who lived for others. "She never celebrated herself," he said. "She thought of herself as small, but she was larger than life to everyone who knew her." He urged the crowd to embrace life fully, echoing his wife's expansive spirit. "Don't be small in life," he said. "Be big, reach out, and connect as human beings."
The family was searching for dessert at the vibrant Filipino street festival when the tragedy struck. Authorities allege Kai-Ji Adam Lo, 30, drove the SUV into the crowd, leaving chaos in his wake. "It hit us before we knew," Johansen told The Associated Press. "I was falling in slow motion, trying to save my head from the pavement. It felt like a tidal wave."
A Message of Forgiveness
Johansen shared a poignant memory of a conversation with Darbellay the day before the attack. They discussed revenge and its futility. "That's the whole problem," Darbellay had said. "We need to forgive the perpetrators of crimes committed against us." Her words now guide Johansen as he navigates unimaginable loss. "I'm trying to live by her wisdom," he said.
Johansen, who holds Canadian, British, and American citizenship, splits his time between Vancouver and Los Angeles. His Hallmark credits include "Garage Sale Mystery: All That Glitters," "When Calls the Heart," "Chesapeake Shores," "Harvest Love," "Reunited at Christmas," and "Roux the Day: A Gourmet Detective Mystery." The vigil, attended by hundreds, underscored the community's grief and resilience in the face of tragedy.
