PH Consulate General in Calgary Delivers Consular Services to Filipino Wildfire Victims in High Level, Alberta
Filipino residents in High Level apply for consular services on 21 September 2019. (Calgary PCG photo)
CALGARY 10 October 2019 — The Philippine Consulate General in Calgary, led by Consul General to Calgary Zaldy B. Patron, conducted a special consular outreach in High Level, Alberta to deliver consular services to the Filipinos who were affected by the wildfires that raged through the town and nearby areas in May 2019.
An estimated 500 Filipinos in High Level were among the 10,000 wildfire victims that were evacuated and relocated for weeks in other parts of Alberta. High Level is located in Northern Alberta, about 1,035 kilometers away from Calgary.
The Consulate General rendered 103 consular services during the 1.5 days of the consular outreach on 21-22 September 2019. The Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO)-Vancouver also joined and provided its services.
Days prior to the consular outreach, Consul General Patron checked the labor conditions of Filipino workers in various establishments in High Level. Among those he visited were Tim Hortons, Canadian Tires, Kentucky Fried Chicken, A&W, Best Western Hotel, TGP Supermarket, and Tolko Industries Ltd.
Consul General Patron also met with Mayor Crystal MacAteer on 20 September 2019 to express his gratitude for ensuring the Filipinos’ safety during the wildfires and the mandatory evacuation in May. The Mayor described the Filipinos as “excellent people” who were a welcome addition to the town of High Level.
A Community Forum for the Filipino residents of High Level was also held where the consular services, as well as the cultural and economic programs of the Philippine Consulate General, were explained.
On 22 September 2019, Consul General Patron also met with other Filipino community members at a mass at Our Lady of Good Counsel Church and at the fifth anniversary celebration of the Jesus Is Lord Church.
“We are pleased to be of help to our kababayan in High Level who went through a situation in May when their town was hit by a natural disaster. Through the special consular outreach and the community forum, we hope that we were able to show them that the Philippine government cares for them,” Consul General Patron said on why the Consulate General sent a team to High Level. END
Left photo: Consul General Zaldy B. Patron (right) and High Level Mayor Crystal MacAteer (left) during their meeting on 20 September 2019. Right photo: Consul General Patron (rightmost) talks to the Filipino employees of Canadian Tire in High Level on 19 September 2019. (Calgary PCG photo)
Consul General Patron (in black suti) with some of the Filipino attendees of the Community Forum held in High Level on 20 September 2019. (Calgary PCG photo)
Consul General Patron (in suit) with some of the Filipino Catholics during the Mass at the Our Lady of Good Counsel Church in High Level on 22 September 2019. (Calgary PCG photo)
Consul General Patron (fifth from left) with the members of the Jesus Is Lord Church in High Level during the church’s fifth Anniversary celebration on 22 September 2019. (Calgary PCG photo)
For more information, visit https://www.calgarypcg.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinCalgary/