Candidates for the 2014 BC Municipal Elections

RJ Aquino

Vancouver

OneCity Party

City Council Candidate

RJ Aquino is a proud Filipino-Canadian, parent, and community activist who works in the local high-tech sector. He is co-founder and Board Director of the Tulayan Filipino Diaspora Society and a Director of Collingwood Neighbourhood House. He is a recipient of the Maharlika award for leadership. He has also been involved in the BCNDP Provincial Executive, Vancouver City Planning Commission, and Vancouver’s Asian Heritage Month.

www.onecityvancouver.ca

Rod Belleza

Richmond

RITE Richmond Party

School Trustee Candidate (incumbent)

Rod Belleza made Filipino-Canadian history in 2008 when he became the first Fil-Can to win a civic position in BC (as School Trustee). He followed it up with another win in 2011, and is hoping to win a third straight term. Belleza has served the community for over 25 years on the Richmond Intercultural Advisory Committee, Services advisory Committee, East Richmond Community Association, and many other positions.

www.riterichmond.ca/candidates/board-of-education/rod-belleza/

Narima Dela Cruz

Surrey

One Surrey Party

City Council Candidate

Narima Dela Cruz is a Founding Director of the Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society, and has served with organizations such as S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and Options Community Service Society, and as Vice-Chair of the Johnston Heights Secondary School Parent Advisory Council. Narima Dela Cruz is a recipient of the 2012 Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award, and was honored with the REALTORS Care Award for excellent community volunteerism.

www.narima.ca

Abraham Deocera

Vancouver

Independent

City Council Candidate

Abraham Deocera is a Registered Nurse in BC since 2000. He has worked with the Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, and is now working as an educator at Gateway College and a community nurse under Folkstone Adult Family Care Homes.

adeocera@hotmail.com

Edwin Empinado

Kitimat

Independent

City Council Candidate (incumbent)

Edwin Empinado was the first Filipino-Canadian elected to a Municipal Council position when he won a seat on Kitimat City Council during the 2011 BC Municipal Elections. Empinado was the president of the Filipino Canadian Association in Kitimat and the contract steward for the BC Nurses Union at Kitimat General Hospital, and then became the Steward Liaison and Member Educator for the BC Nurses Union of the Northwest.

www.kitimat.ca/EN/main/municipal/mayor-council/about-your-council.html

Via Fearnley

North Vancouver

Independent

City Council Candidate

Via Fearnley is a registered nurse and businesswoman who has lived in North Vancouver for over 28 years. She is a co-founder of the Kultura Filipino Society, and has been an active and involved member of the community. She is married to former North Vancouver City Councillor Bob Fearnley.

www.viafearnley.ca

Ferdinand Ramos

Vancouver

Independent

City Council Candidate

Ferdinand Ramos is an electrician that has worked at the Hyatt Vancouver for 17 years. He is one of 10,000 hotel workers in Vancouver, and has the backing of Hotel Workers United Local 40. His Union, UNITE HERE Local 40, was the first to win humane workloads and better health insurance in the hotel industry.

www.uniteherelocal40.org

Sammie Jo Rumbaua

Vancouver

Vision Vancouver Party

Park Board Candidate

Sammie Jo Rumbaua is a Vancouver community organizer, youth settlement worker, and employment program assistant. She is a board member of the Southeast Asian Cultural Heritage Society and Tulayan, a non-profit Filipino-Canadian organization. In 2010 she received the Vancouver-Kensington Community Leadership Award, and in 2011 the Filipino Canadian Cultural Heritage Society Maharlika Award for Community Service.

www.votevision.ca

Mercedes Wong

Vancouver

Vancouver First Party

City Council Candidate

Mercedes Wong has lived in Vancouver for over 40 years. In that time she has volunteered for many non-profit groups serving various communities such as seniors, the Aboriginal community, and the homeless in the Downtown Eastside. She was the first female director for G&F Financial Group, and has served as director of the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver.

www.vancouver1st.com