Filipino-Canadian respiratory therapist Vanessa Gilera puts students first in Surrey school board bid

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 10, 2026

Photo courtesy: City of Surrey

SURREY, British Columbia — After more than 15 years caring for patients and families in health care, Filipino-Canadian respiratory therapist Vanessa Gilera is bringing that experience into a different kind of public service as she seeks a seat on the Surrey Board of Education.

Gilera is an official SURREY NOW candidate for school trustee in the October  17, 2026 municipal election. Surrey voters will elect six trustees to School District No. 36 alongside one mayor and eight city councillors.

A mother of two, community volunteer and longtime Surrey resident, Gilera has centered her campaign on a straightforward principle: students should come first.

Her priorities include making sure school space keeps pace with Surrey’s population growth, directing more resources into classrooms, strengthening school safety and improving support for children with special needs.

For Gilera, those priorities come from both professional and personal experience.

She has spent more than 15 years working in health care as a respiratory therapist, a profession built around assessing patients, responding to complex needs and working closely with families and multidisciplinary care teams. Her campaign describes that experience as shaping the way she approaches advocacy — by listening first, showing compassion and recognizing when people need additional support.

That same approach now forms part of the perspective she wants to bring to Surrey schools.

“I want our schools to be places where every child feels they belong, where their individual needs are recognized, and where we are truly setting them up for success in school and in life,” Gilera says in her official candidate statement.

From Marikina to Surrey

Gilera was born and raised in Marikina, Philippines, before immigrating to Canada with her family at age 11. She later built her career and family life in British Columbia and is now raising two children in Surrey with her husband.

Her Filipino roots remain an important part of her public identity.

Gilera has spoken about the values of family, education, hard work, and community as influences on her life and has said she hopes her candidacy can encourage stronger Filipino-Canadian participation in civic affairs.

“Our Filipino community has contributed so much to Surrey, and I would be honoured to represent our community and bring our voices and perspectives to the table, while serving all students and families across Surrey,” she said in an earlier community profile.

A parent inside the school community

Gilera’s connection to education also extends beyond being a parent.

She serves on the Parish Education Committee of Star of the Sea School in Surrey, where her responsibilities have included parent participation. The committee helps oversee school policy, finances, staffing and general school operations alongside the pastor and principal.

Her family has also been actively involved in the school and parish community through volunteer work and school activities.

That involvement has given Gilera direct exposure to the everyday concerns of parents –  from classroom resources and school safety to whether students with different learning and support needs are receiving appropriate assistance.

Making room for Surrey’s growth

One of Gilera’s central campaign issues is school capacity.

Surrey continues to grow rapidly, and Gilera wants school infrastructure and classroom availability to keep pace with that growth rather than leave students and families dealing with overcrowding or inadequate space.

Her campaign pairs that concern with a call for more resources to reach classrooms directly, where teachers and students can feel their impact.

She has also placed particular emphasis on children with special needs, saying schools should recognize the individual needs of students and ensure they have appropriate resources and opportunities to participate and succeed.

For Gilera, inclusion means more than having children physically present in a classroom. Her campaign emphasizes creating school environments where students feel safe, valued, and supported according to their individual circumstances.

Health-care experience brought to education

Gilera’s background as a respiratory therapist also gives her experience working in environments where safety, communication and teamwork are critical.

Her professional history includes respiratory therapy, patient education, and long-term respiratory support. She has also taken on clinical training and mentorship responsibilities involving other health-care professionals.

Before entering respiratory care, Gilera worked in airport operations at Vancouver International Airport, where her responsibilities included supervising passenger and gate operations. She later pursued respiratory-care studies at Seattle Central Community College after earlier studies in travel and tourism at Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Across those different roles, Gilera has described listening, communication and responsible decision-making as skills she wants to carry into school governance.

“As a mom and someone who has spent more than 15 years caring for people in health care, I know how important it is to listen, show compassion, and advocate for those who need support,” she says in her candidate statement.

Filipino-Canadian voices in the school board race

Gilera is one of two Filipino-Canadian women on the SURREY NOW school board slate, alongside family physician Dr. Michelle Ceniza.

SURREY NOW identifies Gilera as a respiratory therapist and youth advocate, while Ceniza is presented as a family physician and parent advocate. The organization is fielding six candidates for the six available trustee positions.

Gilera and Ceniza have also participated in Filipino community events around Surrey’s 2026 election, including a July meet-and-greet that brought together Filipino candidates and community members to discuss civic participation and local issues.

For Gilera, however, her campaign remains focused on students across Surrey regardless of background.

Her message is rooted in the perspective of a mother and health-care professional who believes children should have access to the space, safety, classroom resources and individualized support they need to succeed.

Surrey residents will vote on Saturday, October 17, with advance voting scheduled for October 7, 10, 14 and 15.

For Gilera, the school board race is an extension of the work she has already spent years doing – caring for people, listening to families and advocating for those who need additional support.