Lucas Sugui: Young Filipino-Canadian Innovator Wins Regional Award

In an inspiring display of dedication, young Filipino-Canadian Lucas Sugui has won the prestigious Regional Award in the Rideau Hall Foundation’s Ingenious+ competition. His project, an environmental website named Paia, tracks and reports environmental cleanups across Metro Vancouver. From large-scale organizational efforts to individual actions, Paia provides a platform for environmental stewardship and awareness.

“I felt inspired to pursue this concept as it merged my love for the environment and sustainability with imparting information and awareness,” Lucas explains. “Thanks to Rideau Hall’s benevolence, they provided Paia with the resources needed to expand the project during the summer, when we will be accumulating the essential tools to host our own clean team to not only map clean-ups but also take matters into our own hands to keep a cleaner BC.”

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Born in the Philippines, Lucas spent his early years immersed in the cultural traditions of his homeland before immigrating to Canada. His family’s professional background and their sacrifice to start anew in Canada have profoundly influenced his journey.

“Both my parents are professionals in the Philippines. My mother is a nursing and business management graduate, while my father holds degrees in business management, nursing, and law. They have both emphasized the importance of education, which has inspired me to follow in their footsteps and prioritize my education,” he shares.

The path to success was not without challenges. A primary hurdle was developing the website and the organization’s identity. “I triumphed over this by gathering thoughts and perspectives from friends, family, and various experts,” he says. Lucas credits his best friend and co-founder Wynn Ho; Micayla Yeap for the logo design, Aidan Chan for his ideas and support, and Ms. North, Killarney Secondary School’s environment club sponsor, for their unwavering encouragement.

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Despite his busy schedule, Lucas finds time to enjoy his hobbies. “During my leisure time, I love spending time with my family, watching and playing basketball, and reading books, especially fiction, history, and documentaries,” he says.

Lucas’s contributions extend beyond environmental activism. He was the former Deputy Prime Minister of the Killarney Student Government and currently the Co -President of Killarney News and the Vice President of Environment Club. He aims to be a role model for younger generations, encouraging them to embrace challenges and pursue their dreams. “I encourage young people to simply take a leap; my notion was a pipe dream, a mere vision of what could possibly be. I could have left it as a theory, but I took a leap of faith and founded an organization in the hopes of creating a long-term prospect for the public as well as empowering others to do the same,” he advises.

Reflecting on his roots, Lucas fondly recalls his time in the Philippines.

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“I can attest to the country’s beauty and rich cultural traditions, which include saying ‘po’ and ‘opo’ and applying ‘Mano’ to show respect for the elderly. I can declare from personal experience that the most valuable resource of the Philippines is its people; they are extraordinarily kind-hearted, welcoming, and compassionate,” he reminisces.

Lucas’s favorite Filipino food, Halo-Halo, is a metaphor for his life experiences. “The components of Halo-Halo – when mixed – show their actual essence and create an amalgamation of distinct tastes, representing the various facets of my life that shape who I am,” he says.

As Lucas looks to the future, he envisions himself contributing to both the Canadian and Filipino communities with his skills and talents. His journey is a testament to the power of perseverance, innovation, and the support of a close-knit community.