04 December 2014 – Philippine Consul General Junever Mahilum-West attended, together with other Consuls General of the Consular Corps in Toronto, the inaugural session on December 01 of the new Council of Markham, a city to the east of Toronto, which hosts a big population of Chinese (52.9%), South Asian (26.4%) Filipino and other ethnic groupings of Asian heritage. The event also commemorated the 220th anniversary of the founding of Markham which is now considered Canada’s most diverse city and the only municipality that hosts a national day for every community.
Re-elected Mayor Frank Scarpitti presided over the Council session and joined the oath-taking of all the Council members. He called for the “unleashing of the extraordinary potential of Markham”, reinvigorated efforts to establish an inclusive economy, welcoming the world during the Pan Am Games in 2015, enhanced infrastructure and transportation projects and bringing York University to Markham Centre.
The Mayor introduced the other 12 members of the Markham City Council. Among them was Councilor Alex Chiu, who was born and raised in the Philippines and immigrated to Canada in 1973 with wife Alicia. Councilor Chiu was re-elected as Councilor to represent Ward 8 for his 10th consecutive term, now serving the same Ward since 1985. Councilor Chiu reiterated his dedication to public service and his strong commitment to the community and the city of Markham. He helped establish the Milliken Mills Filipino Association in 1981 and the Markham Federation of Filipino Canadians in 1988. He led the Filipino-Canadian community in Markham in succeeding at naming a city street Rizal Avenue.
In its continuing active presence in the city’s Filipino community events, Deputy Consul General Jesusa Susana V. Paez represented the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto on November 28 during the 25th anniversary celebration of the Federation of Philippine Chinese in Ontario (FPCO). FPCO aims to promote, preserve and perpetuate the culture, heritage and tradition of Filipino-Chinese residents in the Ontario province
Filipino cuisine also finds its way among Markham’s residents with the grand opening of “Lola’s Place” at Pacific Mall on November 29, reputed to be the largest Chinese shopping mall in North America, located east of Toronto. The Consulate General, represented by Consul Shirley E. Banquicio, fully supports small business entreprises such as this food stall which help promote and increase awareness of Philippine culture among Toronto’s diverse communities. END