Canadian Filipinos Rowena Santos and Lisa Bower Win Civic Council Seats; Trustees G. Tanuan and L. Del Rosario Reelected

 
By Tony A. San Juan, OCT.
Toronto-Canada
October 23, 2018
 


For the first time in the history of Canadian politics involving Filipinos in the Greater Toronto Area,  2  Filipinas was elected City and Town Councillors  in the October 22, 2018 municipal elections. . Yes mga kababayans.  Proudly, it is indeed a historic day for Filipinos in this adopted country.



Rowena Santos, who was born and raised in Canada, has won the riding of Wards 1 & 5 of the City of Brampton .  She claimed the City's Councillor position with 7,160 or 41.34 per cent of the total votes. Lisa Bower, also a  Canadian Filipino of Filipino heritage, bagged the municipal council seat for Ward 3 in the Town of Ajax. Bower garnered 4,380 or 45.79 per cent of the electorate votes.

 A political director and business professional, R. Santos has a BBA degree from Schulich School of Business and has Masters from UK's London School of Economics. An active school council chair, she volunteers for "Brampton Focus", "Neighbourhood Watch" and "Stand Up for Brampton" community service initiatives.

Lisa Bower, is a proud mother with over 25 years of experience in insurance and financial services being an administrator and financial advisor. She also volunteers for community outreach programs and fundraising for cancer research as a survivor.  As a parent of school-aged children , Lisa is active in the Catholic school board. Bower campaigns on the platform of " New leadership. New possibilities for Change."

 In her winning the vote, R. Santos emphasized the diversity of her campaign team . “Everything we have done has been about the grass roots of our community, from youth to seniors and every background,” Santos said.

“We said yes to more transit, we said yes to creating jobs for Brampton, we said yes to opportunities for young people, according to Santos. ”She also plan to fight for a cap on property tax increases and an increase in commercial zoning for small, medium and start-up companies. She promised  to “engage” with residents in the decision-making process. “You inspired us,” she told her campaign team and supporters.

 In the Ontario Catholic English separate school system, 2 incumbent Filipino Canadian Trustees were reelected. Garry Tanuan, of the Toronto Catholic District School Board's Ward 8 in Scarborough North won his 3rd term. He was elected in 2012 bye-election and in 2014. He received a total of 3,441 votes.


 On one hand, Luz Del Rosario, claimed the Trustee position for Wards 6 & 11 of the Dufferin Peel Catholic District School Board in Mississauga with 5243 votes. This is also L. Del Rosario 's 3rd time to win as Trustee. ( Tony A. San Juan)