Toronto Catholic District School Board proclaims June as Filipino Heritage Month

Consul General Rosalita S. Prospero and Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB) Trustee for Ward 8 Garry Tanuan look on as the Board’s Chair Ms. Barbara Poplawski and Director for Education Mr. Rory McGuckin sign the official proclamation (Toronto PCG photo)

TORONTO 25 June 2018 — In recognition of the many contributions of Filipinos in enriching the diversity and social fabric of Toronto, the Toronto Catholic District School Board issued on 12 June a proclamation instituting the month of June as Filipino Heritage Month, and 12 June as Filipino Heritage Day.

Consul General Rosalita S. Prospero witnessed the signing of the proclamation in a simple ceremony held at the headquarters of the School Board’s Catholic Education Centre on 12 June.   

The Toronto Catholic District School Board voted on 17 May 2018 to proclaim 12 June of every year as Filipino Heritage Day, and June of each year as Filipino Heritage Month, in all Catholic secondary and elementary schools in Toronto. 

The official proposal and package, together with the letter of support from the Filipino Heritage Month Council, the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, and Filipino-Canadian Parents Association in Catholic Education (FCPACE), was presented to the Board by School Board Ward 8 Trustee Garry Tanuan.

The Board has 168 elementary schools (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8), 31 secondary schools (Grades 9-12), and three combined (elementary and secondary) schools that offer a well-rounded Christian curriculum.

A vast majority of Filipino children attend schools under the School Board.

The proclamation of the School Board comes on the heels of the approval of a similar motion by the City Council of Toronto on 17 November 2017. END

For more information, visit www.torontopcg.dfa.gov.ph / www.philcongen-toronto.com

 or https://www.facebook.com/PHinToronto

Consul General Rosalita S. Prospero, Trustee for Ward 8 Garry Tanuan, Board’s Chair Ms. Barbara Poplawski and Director for Education Mr. Rory McGuckin pose for a souvenir photo to mark the historical proclamation of June each year as Filipino Heritage Month. (Toronto PCG photo)

The Board’s Chair Ms. Barbara Poplawski presents a framed facsimile copy of the proclamation to Consul General Rosalita S. Prospero. (Toronto PCG photo)