Fil-Canadian Doctor Receives Award for Community Service
MP Kent Hehr of Calgary Center presents the award to Dr. Victorino Lantion on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the 23rd annual Immigrants of Distinction Award night. (Calgary PCG photo)
CALGARY 25 March 2019 – A Filipino-Canadian doctor was one of the recipients of the 2019 Immigrants of Distinction Award (IDA) for Community Service.
The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary congratulates Dr. Victorino Lantion for receiving the 2019 IDA for Community Service during the 23rd annual IDA night at the Bella Concert Hall of the Mount Royal University in Calgary on 15 March 2019.
Consul General Asuque joins the Filipino community leaders who attended the awards night in congratulating Dr. Lantion for his valuable assistance to the community and for bringing honor to the Filipinos and Filipino-Canadians for his commendable contribution to the Canadian community.
Dr. Lantion is the second Filipino-Canadian to receive the IDA. The first was Mr. Cesar Calla in 2009.
MP Kent Hehr of Calgary Center presented the award to Dr. Lantion on behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the ceremonies attended by about 100 guests, led by the Alberta Lieutenant Governor Lois E. Mitchell and Deputy Premier and Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman.
Lt. Gov. Mitchell congratulated the awardees for their remarkable determination and resilience, willingness to take up the challenge and adopt to changes, heartfelt care and compassion for others, and for being great citizens of Canada.
Dr. Lantion was chosen to receive the Community Service Award from among three nominees.
He came to Canada with his family from the Philippines in 2007. He was a medical doctor in the Philippines with a strong foundation in public health and community development. In the 1990’s, he began raising awareness around issues impacting families, including domestic violence, HIV-AIDS and sexually transmitted infections, and disaster management.
After arriving in Canada, Dr. Lantion worked for more than 10 years in the field of domestic violence prevention and transforming public health institutions through community organizing, participatory action research, as well as engagement in policy advocacy.
The Filipino-Canadian doctor co-founded the Men’s Action Network–Calgary, a group that supports and promotes healthy family relationships. He contributed greatly to domestic violence prevention in the immigrant community by working on a system, community and personal level. Currently and despite struggles with his own health, Dr. Lantion continues to volunteer for a network of 18 community-based organizations.
The IDA is organized and presented by the Immigrant Services Calgary (ISC), which provides a wide range of settlement services to immigrants and refugees looking to begin a new chapter of their lives in Canada. The ISC employs a client-focused, integrated approach when working with individuals and their families to help them settle in Calgary. END
Consul General Gilberto G.B. Asuque (first from left) congratulates Dr. Victorino Lantion (second from left). (Calgary PCG photo)
Dr. Victorino Lantion worked for more than ten years in the field of domestic violence prevention and transforming public health institutions through community organizing, participatory action research, as well as engagement in policy advocacy. (Calgary PCG photo)
Consul General Gilberto G.B. Asuque joins the Filipino Community leaders who attended the Awards night in congratulating Dr. Victorino Lantion. (Calgary PCG photo)
For more information, visit www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCalgary/.