FOUR FILIPINO-CANADIANS VIE FOR CIVIC ELECTIVE SEATS IN ALBERTA AND MONTREAL

 

By Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired
Toronto-Canada
October 15, 2021
 




The year 2021, amid the coronavirus pandemic, is a remarkable year for the Filipino communities across Canada. Research and reports recently showed that a substantial number of Filipino-Canadians have "thrown their hats" into the Canadian political environment. In early Autumn, 11 Pinoys and Pinays ran for Members of Parliament on September 20, 2021. Only one, however, was successful, Rechie Valdez, MP-Elect for Mississauga Streetsville, Ontario, becoming the first Filipina to become a Member of Parliament and the second Filipino-Canadian MP, following Manitoba MP Rey Pagtakhan in 2004 .

These developments provided the impetus and the opportunity for other ambitious and determined Filipino kababayans to enter city, provincial and federal politics by offering their talents and tools in the ever-challenging world of democratic political life.

This coming October 18, 2021 municipal election in Alberta, Neil Tuazon,  Giselle General, and Rufa Doria are running to become City Councillors in Grande Prairie, Edmonton and Lethbridge, respectively.  In Whitehorse, Yukon, incumbent City Councillor Curteanu is up for reelection on October 21, 2021. Their candidacies are in addition to previously-reported 4 other Filipino- Canadians who are seeking elective posts also in Alberta and Quebec such as Grace Yan for Mayor of Calgary and Jyn San Miguel for Town councillor in Canmore. Likewise, in Montreal France Stohner and Stephanie Valenzuela are vying for Councillor seats in the Borough of Cotes de Neiges-Notre Dame de Grace on November 7, 2021



NEIL TUAZON, the president of the Filipino Association of Grande Prairie in Alberta, is running for the City Council of Grande Prairie. Neil aims to "create a safe, caring, diverse, more inclusive and welcoming City". His campaign platform includes "creating city-supported community sports programs to help take the financial strain off parents, building better roads and infrastructure, and constructing a local drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility offering a pre-treatment education program". Neil also wants to promote sports for young kids and to subsidize sports program. He is deeply passionate about improving people’s lives and believes that “Public service is the voice and representative of the people.” Happily married for 25 years to his wife Minerva, they and have two grown children, Edward and Albert. A sports guy, a former track and field athlete, Neil likes to go biking and do nature walks. Neil admitted having experienced challenges and struggles as a newcomer- immigrant in Canada.



GISELLE GENERAL, a first-time candidate, and a 46-year old woman is running in the sipiwiyiniwak ward in West Edmonton. Giselle wants to be a trailblazer and deplores the lack of representation in the City of Edmonton's political life. She wants to "prove that an orphaned immigrant and a woman of colour can be in a leadership position" in Edmonton. She wants to inspire her fellow Filipinos to "care a bit more about municipal politics, and breaks some glass ceilings along the way." Sponsored by a relative, Giselle and her brother came to Canada in 2007 from Mountain Province, the Philippines. With a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Alberta, she worked at a non-profit organization and helped the community through multiple causes. Giselle served on the boards of the Rio Terrace Community League, Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board, and Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues, and volunteers as a columnist of the Alberta Filipino Journal.



RUFA DORIA is vying for a seat in the Lethbridge City Council in Alberta because she wants to "restore the ABC’s of leadership to  City Council": "A" – For attention to the core of community problems and the voices of our citizens, "B" – For business-minded decisions and policies to support our local economy, "C" – For the community, bringing people together. Rufa stated that the main reason that prompted her to run is  “because I have never seen identities and experiences like mine represented at the city level. I believe the people in positions of leadership should also reflect a professional representation from the population.” From the Philippines, Rufa immigrated to Canada in 2004. She has a PhD in Bioresource Engineering from McGill University. Rufa is the current president of the Filipino Canadian Association of Lethbridge, served as vice-president of the Southern Alberta Ethnic Association up to 2019, and was also a member of the Irrigation Council in Alberta until June 2021. Doria, the immigration consultant says "she loves Lethbridge and wants to be a part of helping the city to flourish."



JOCELYN CURTEANU  is the first Filipino woman to be elected to a municipal council in the Yukon Territory. As an incumbent Councillor of the City of Whitehorse, Yukon, Curteanu is campaigning for re-election for a fourth term in the city council. She has served on the Whitehorse council since first elected in October 2012.  She was re-elected in 2018 for her third term. Jocelyn who originally immigrated from the Philippines in 1976, has lived and worked in British Columbia, Yukon, and Alberta, In 2011, she finally settled in Whitehorse, Yukon Territories with her husband and four children since 2011. She has been employed with the Government of Canada for over 20 years and currently works with the Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency. She is proud of having contributed to a better relationship between the city and First Nations. Councillor Jocelyn Curteanu believes that it is  “important for good governance to have a balance on Council of old and new,  and people with different backgrounds and perspectives.”

Any of the 4 Councillor candidates in Alberta, namely Neil Tuazon, Giselle General, Rufa Doria and Jyn San Miguel, whenever successful, will become the first Filipino-Canadian elected Alderperson in their respective cities. This distinction goes the same to Mayoralty candidate Grace Yan in Calgary. Similarly, if elected, City Councillor candidates Stephanie Valenzuela for Darlington District under the Ensemble Montreal Party and France Stohner for Snowdon District with Courage--- Équipe Sue Montgomery Party will be the first Filipino-Canadian councillors in Montreal.  Whitehorse City Councillor Jocelyn Curteanu, seeking re-election, hopes to retain her seat. All the 8 Pinay and Pinoy politicians promised to deliver their platforms and desire to articulate voices for their respective communities and represent the interests of their diverse constituents in Alberta, Yukon, and Montreal as well. Good luck! God bless! Mabuhay kayo mga kababayans! ( Tony A. San Juan, OCT-Retired)