Hallmark Actor Speaks Out After Wife Killed in Tragic Festival Crash in Canada

Just days after a devastating tragedy, Hallmark actor Noel Johansen bravely spoke at a vigil honoring victims of a horrific crash that took place during a Filipino heritage festival in Vancouver, Canada.

Johansen, a British citizen and former London resident now living in Canada, lost his wife, 50-year-old costume designer Jenifer Darbellay, when an Audi SUV driven by a mentally ill man plowed into a crowd attending the Lapu Lapu Day celebration Saturday evening. The crash killed 11 people and injured dozens more, including Johansen and his 7-year-old daughter, Darby. His 15-year-old son, Ford, was also at the festival but was not reported injured.

Speaking through tears and supported by crutches, Johansen addressed a somber crowd on Monday:
“This injury means nothing to me because what’s inside my heart is broken,” he said.
“My wife passed away right behind me during the incident. She never thought of herself—she always put others first. But for anyone who knew her, she was larger than life. Don’t live small. Live big. Love fully. And please remember us.”

Johansen, known for roles in Psych, Supernatural, Fargo, The Good Doctor, and multiple Hallmark movies such as When Calls the Heart and Reunited at Christmas, has received an outpouring of support since the tragedy.

His close friend and fellow actor Michael Daingerfield launched a GoFundMe to support Johansen and his children. So far, the campaign has raised over $166,000 CAD, surpassing its $150,000 goal.

“I’m still in shock,” Daingerfield wrote on the fundraiser page. “This is an incredibly difficult time for Noel, and moving forward is going to feel impossible. Jen was truly one of a kind—an artist, a loving wife, a caring mother. She was warm, stylish, thoughtful, and selfless.”

Jenifer was known in her community for her volunteer work at her daughter’s school, Sir Alexander Mackenzie Elementary.

The aftermath of the crash was devastating, with disturbing images showing the extent of the destruction. Witnesses described chaos as emergency crews rushed in and bystanders tried to help. The driver, 30-year-old Kai-Ji Adam Lo, was pulled from the SUV and reportedly said “sorry” to witnesses.

Authorities say Lo had a history of mental health struggles. In the year leading up to the tragedy, his older brother was murdered and his mother attempted suicide, events believed to have contributed to a mental health crisis. Lo is currently facing eight counts of second-degree murder.

According to officials, Lo was known to police and had shown signs of paranoia and delusions prior to the attack.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his condolences, calling the incident a “horrific tragedy,” and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh, who had attended the event earlier that evening, said he was shaken by what had happened.
“I saw children dancing and smiling just minutes before,” Singh said. “This is so horrific, I don’t even know what to say.”

Ordinarily, Vancouver city officials block off streets during festivals using large trucks, but on this occasion, that safety measure was not in place.

Families from all over the city had gathered to enjoy the spring evening. Instead, the street turned into a makeshift emergency zone as bystanders performed CPR and tried to save lives before paramedics arrived. Social media footage showed toppled tents, overturned chairs, and dazed festivalgoers amidst the wreckage. One baby was reportedly trapped beneath a car.

The ages of the deceased range from 5 to 65 years old.

Further details about Lo’s past paint a heartbreaking picture. After moving into their Vancouver home, his father died. Then in January 2024, his brother Alexander, 31, was found murdered. A man named Dwight William Kematch, 39, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder.

At the time, Lo shared his grief online:
“It pains me deeply to write this. My brother was taken from us in a senseless act of violence. I’m filled with regret for not spending more time with him.”

He later returned to social media to raise funds after his mother attempted suicide and spent a month in the hospital.

This senseless act has left a community grieving and a family forever changed. But through the heartbreak, Noel Johansen’s courage and the memory of Jenifer Darbellay continue to inspire love and compassion.

In a heartbreaking post shared before the tragedy, Kai-Ji Adam Lo opened up about the deep pain his family had been enduring.

“The grief my mother is going through is even greater than my own,” he wrote.
“She brought my brother into this world, only to lose him so suddenly. It’s a sorrow I can’t begin to describe.”

He went on to explain that his mother was already facing the loss of one son—and was now at risk of losing her home.
“It drove her to attempt to take her own life,” he shared.

Following the fatal crash, Lo reportedly had several interactions with police and medical professionals. Neighbors told The Globe and Mail that officers had recently visited the Lo family’s home, even requesting security footage just two weeks before the incident.

One neighbor described hearing frequent shouting inside the home.
“He was always yelling at his mom. I don’t know why,” the neighbor said.
“He seemed really nervous—always afraid something bad was going to happen to him.”

According to The Vancouver Sun, a family member had contacted a mental health center seeking help for Lo just hours before Saturday’s deadly event.