Filipino-Canadian Ethel Purugganan brings labour, HR experience to North Vancouver school board race

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 10, 2026

Photo courtesy: Rovic Canono

NORTH VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Filipino-Canadian community and labour advocate Ethel Purugganan is seeking a seat on the North Vancouver Board of Education, bringing more than two decades of experience in payroll, staffing and human resources in unionized workplaces into the 2026 school trustee race.

Purugganan is running independently for one of the three school trustee seats elected by voters in the City of North Vancouver on October 17. Six candidates are contesting the three City seats on the seven-member North Vancouver Board of Education.

Her campaign is centered on transparency, accountability, student-focused education and school safety, alongside calls for well-resourced classrooms, expanded before- and after-school care and fair contracts for education workers.

Purugganan’s story began in Kalinga province in the Philippines’ Cordillera region, where they were born and raised and identify as Indigenous.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts major in Philosophy from the University of Santo Tomas and later undertook law studies at San Beda University. After moving to Canada in 1991, Purugganan also pursued criminology studies at Douglas College while working. Their published labour profile documents more than two decades of experience in payroll, staffing, and human resources in unionized settings.

That professional background eventually led to a deeper involvement in organized labour.

Purugganan has been a member of the Hospital Employees’ Union since 2009 and works in payroll and human resources. They currently serve as one of HEU’s regional vice-presidents for Vancouver Coastal, a position on the union’s provincial executive.

Her years in unionized workplaces have shaped a public-service outlook focused on worker representation, fairness and organizational accountability – experience Purugganan now hopes to bring to school governance.

For the school board, Purugganan has identified transparency as one of their central commitments, pledging to remain open and accessible to parents, staff and the wider community.

Ethel’s platform also emphasizes accountability, including public hearings and independent audits, as well as a student-centered approach to education aimed at developing autonomy, critical thinking and lifelong problem-solving skills.

School safety is another priority, with Purugganan calling for measures to protect students and staff from emergencies, violence and other hazards.

Campaign materials supporting Purugganan also highlight well-resourced classrooms, increased before- and after-school care and fair contracts for education workers as areas of focus.

The emphasis on education comes alongside a long-standing interest in social justice and human rights.

Purugganan has previously described their experience in unionized workplaces as a catalyst for becoming more active in labour organizing and advocacy. Through HEU, they have participated in workshops, conferences and labour initiatives involving worker rights, diversity, equity and inclusion.

That work has also earned support from organized labour in the municipal race. The Vancouver and District Labour Council endorsed Purugganan for the City of North Vancouver school board contest in June.

Purugganan’s candidacy is also being highlighted within North Vancouver’s Filipino-Canadian community, where community posts have identified them alongside fellow school trustee candidates Raphael Perfecto and Senora Navales as Filipino candidates participating in the 2026 local elections.

“Your trust in my commitment and our children are my priority,” Purugganan said in their candidate statement.

For Purugganan, a seat on the school board would provide an opportunity to combine professional experience in human resources and unionized workplaces with a commitment to students, families and public accountability.

The City of North Vancouver will elect one mayor, six councillors and three school trustees on October 17.