Filipino-Canadian Lina Vargas brings a life of service to Vancouver school board race

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 10, 2026

Photo courtesy: ABC Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — From arriving in Vancouver as a caregiver to building a career in social services, health care and entrepreneurship, Filipino-Canadian community leader Lina Vargas is now seeking a seat on the Vancouver School Board.

Vargas is an official ABC Vancouver candidate for school trustee in the October 17, 2026 municipal election. Vancouver voters will elect nine trustees to the board, which oversees elementary, secondary, community and specialized education services in Vancouver, the UBC Lands and University Endowment Lands.

Her candidacy brings together years of community service and a personal journey shaped by migration, continuing education, caregiving and family.

Vargas came to Canada from the Philippines in 2004, leaving behind her children and her work as a midwife to take a caregiver job in Vancouver. Her family later joined her in Canada in 2010.

She continued to pursue education and new professional opportunities after settling in British Columbia, eventually working in health care and social services and establishing her own business.

Vargas founded Care Cut Mobile Salon, a mobile hairstyling service focused on seniors and people with disabilities. Collingwood Neighbourhood House documented her path from working as a seniors care provider to studying hairdressing and completing a business development program before launching the business. She also volunteered as a hairstylist for seniors at the neighbourhood house.

Vargas is described by ABC Vancouver as an entrepreneur and social services worker. She is also the founding president of the Diversity and Inclusion Support Group of B.C., a nonprofit organization focused on recognizing the contributions of migrants, caregivers, health-care workers, volunteers and people from diverse communities.

Through the organization, Vargas has worked on community initiatives aimed at connecting people from different cultural backgrounds. DISG has also partnered with Canadian Blood Services on blood-donation campaigns.

Her interest in education is also personal.

As a mother who raised a child with special needs, Vargas has emphasized the importance of classrooms where students of different abilities and backgrounds feel safe, respected and supported. Her campaign has identified support for students, teachers, parents and migrant families among her priorities.

“I am honored to be among the candidates for the School Board under ABC Vancouver,” Vargas said in announcing her candidacy.

“Understanding the significance of education, I look forward to serving our diverse community. Supporting teachers, students, parents, and migrant families in our expanding community is my priority.”

Her education priorities include safe and inclusive schools, support for teachers, strong academic learning, and opportunities for students beyond academics, including the arts, music and sports.

Vargas has also stressed the importance of cooperation among families, educators, school staff and students in creating learning environments where young people can succeed.

Her community service predates her latest political campaign.

Since 2016, Vargas has volunteered in initiatives involving seniors and vulnerable residents. Her activities have included providing hairstyling services for seniors and participating in Balding for Dollars, a fundraising initiative supporting children affected by cancer through BC Children’s Hospital. BC Children’s Hospital Foundation records list Vargas among participants in the 2018 Balding for Dollars event.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, she also volunteered with Union Gospel Mission. Her public professional profile lists volunteer work with the organization as well as community and fundraising activities.

Vargas has previously stepped into Vancouver municipal politics. She ran as an independent candidate for Vancouver City Council in 2022, appearing on the city’s official council ballot that year.

Her Filipino-Canadian community involvement has remained a visible part of her public work. Vargas has been involved in migrant and multicultural community initiatives and was previously a board member of Filipino BC. She later left the organization in 2025.

Her 2026 campaign marks a shift from a city council bid to public education, with Vargas positioning her experiences as a parent, caregiver, social services worker, entrepreneur and community organizer around the needs of students and families.

ABC Vancouver’s current profile of Vargas says she wants every student to feel welcomed, respected and able to succeed while ensuring teachers have the resources and support needed to serve diverse classrooms.

Vargas is one of 32 candidates seeking nine Vancouver School Board seats in the 2026 election.

Advance voting will take place on October 3, 7, 10 and 13, ahead of general election day on Saturday, October 17.

For Vargas, the school board campaign extends a public-service journey that began with caregiving and has grown through entrepreneurship, social services, advocacy and community organizing across Vancouver.