As authorities uncover chilling details about Vancouver’s worst mass-casualty event in years, Hallmark actor Noel Johansen is mourning a personal loss that has left an entire community shaken.
Noel Johansen has spoken publicly about the heartbreaking loss of his wife, Jen Darbellay, who was killed during the Lapu Lapu festival in Vancouver on Saturday, April 26, 2025.
The tragic incident took place at East 41st Avenue and Fraser Street, where an SUV drove through a crowd gathered to celebrate Filipino culture. Darbellay was fatally struck, while Johansen sustained injuries.
At a vigil held on Monday night (April 28), Johansen stood before the community to honor his late wife. Despite his physical wounds, he made it clear that his emotional pain was far greater.
“What you see here is an injury that means nothing to me because what’s inside my heart is broken,” he said, holding back tears. “Because my wife passed away behind me at the incident.”
Johansen spoke about the comfort he found in the support of others. “And every time I think you hug someone, you should feel someone, and I felt everyone who hugged me since then, I felt her,” he mentioned.
Describing his wife’s character, Johansen shared, “If you ever knew Jennifer Darbellay, my wife, she never celebrated herself in her life. She never thought of herself; she thought of herself as small in terms of the reach. And I can tell you she was larger than life for any of you who know her.”
He encouraged the crowd to live meaningfully, “So, don’t be small in life, be big, reach out and reach out as a human being with everything you have, and please remember us that went through this.”
In the wake of the tragedy, a GoFundMe campaign was created by Michael Daingerfield Hall, a close friend and business partner of Johansen, to help support the grieving family. “It is with a deep sadness and a very heavy heart for which I am reaching out to you about this cause,” Hall wrote.
He expressed the devastating impact on Johansen and his two children, Ford, 15, and Darby, 7. “This is an incredibly difficult time for Noel, and moving forward with his life is going to feel insurmountable. I know that his work will undoubtedly be affected and I would really like for him and his family to be supported during this time,” Hall said.
The fundraiser aims to help with immediate and ongoing expenses. “There will be many costs including airfare for immediate family, food, child care, counselling, funeral expenses, etc.,” Hall explained.
He also described Darbellay as “a one-of-a-kind” person, further stating, “She was an incredibly thoughtful, warm, caring, smart, stylish, artistic woman. A gifted painter, a selfless mother, and a loving wife. She gave the best hugs, was always there to listen without judgement, and had the sweetest voice.”
He added, “She was not only special to me and my family (wife and kids), but she was special to many other friends and people — giving of herself volunteering on the PAC committee at Sir Alexander Mackenzie, Darby’s school.”
As of May 2, the GoFundMe has raised CAD 185,145 (approximately $134,015) from 1,900 donations toward its $200,000 ($144,577) goal.
Hall concluded the appeal by stating, “Please help Noel and his family get through this difficult time with ease of mind, it would mean a lot to me, and of course Noel. Thank you for any support. Every bit counts.”
Darbellay’s husband, Noel Johansen, is a film and stage actor who holds American, Canadian, and British citizenship. Known in the industry as the “accent guy,” he has played a wide variety of characters. His recent nomination for the role of Ilyia Sokolov, a Russian cellist, in “Bletchley San Francisco” highlights his versatility.
Johansen was born in Montreal and has spent much of his life moving between Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
He trained extensively in theatre, studying at the Drama Studio London, the Shakespeare Lab at the Public Theatre in New York, and under notable instructors in Canada, including Larry Moss, Ben Ratner, David Ruttenberg, and Shea Hampton.
He is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and the Sorbonne in Paris. He is bilingual in French and speaks basic German and Italian.
He has appeared in several recognizable roles, including Danny Jackson, who has 16p11.2 deletion syndrome, opposite Devon Sawa in ABC’s “Somewhere Between,” Mr. Black in Nickelodeon’s “Rufus,” Russell in “Loudermilk,” and Sam Crowley in CBS’s “Chaos.”
Johansen has also played multiple roles in Hallmark movies and appeared as a police officer in “The Age of Adaline,” directed by Lee Toland Krieger.
On stage, one of his notable credits includes portraying the young Einstein in Steve Martin’s Picasso at the Lapin Agile during its Broadway touring production at the Wilmington Playhouse.
Outside acting, Johansen is a black belt in Taekwondo and qualified for the Olympic team after university. He continues to train and is also an avid sailor and swimmer.
Friends and neighbors have expressed deep sorrow over the sudden loss of Darbellay, sharing personal memories of her kindness and strength. Heather Dotto, who lived next door to Darbellay and became close with her during early motherhood and the pandemic, wrote a heartfelt tribute on Instagram.
Dotto recalled how their friendship began when Darbellay offered to adjust her wedding jumpsuit and how they supported each other through the challenges of the pandemic. “Jen encouraged me to go to culinary school and took care of Beau so that I could go,” she wrote.
Describing Darbellay’s personality, Dotto said she was “the perfect balance of kindness, support, strength, and wit.” She remembered her sense of humor as “self deprecated” and admired how she taught her children through patience and love.
“Jen was SO funny,” she wrote. “She was the mother nature of mothers. I idolized her ability to softly and effortlessly encourage and teach her kids all of her great qualities.”
Dotto also praised Darbellay’s talents and generosity. “She was a brave artist with her insane amount of talents,” she said, noting how open she was in expressing love. “Every time we hung out, I would receive a lovely little message reflecting on our conversation and telling me she loved me.”
“Jen’s tragic passing has left many hearts shattered,” she added, “but I will use what’s left of mine to support her family and to spread love openly… like she taught me.”
Dotto ended her tribute with a call to action, “Please consider making a donation to help Jen’s family through this horrific time. The link is in my bio.”
The outpouring of grief following Jen Darbellay’s death is shared by many others affected by the mass-casualty event that devastated Vancouver’s Filipino community. As tributes continue, investigators have confirmed new details about the incident that claimed 11 lives and left over two dozen people injured.
On April 26, 2025, the Lapu Lapu Day festival was drawing to a close at around 8:14 p.m. when a speeding SUV drove into a pedestrian-only zone on East 43rd Avenue near Fraser Street.
The vehicle passed food trucks and struck numerous attendees who had gathered for the celebration. Victims ranged from five to 65 years old. Some remain unidentified, and a two-year-old child is in critical condition.
Emergency services rushed 26 injured individuals to nine different hospitals across Metro Vancouver. First responders, volunteers, and witnesses described a horrific scene.
“There were bodies on the street. They were run over. Some were already dead on the spot,” said Abigail Andiso, who had been nearby with friends when the attack happened. She called 911 immediately.
