Filipino-Canadian candidates meet community ahead of B.C. local elections

ASM, Philippine Canadian Inquirer
September 29, 2026

Photo courtesy: Filipinos Helping Filipinos in British Columbia

NEW WESTMINSTER, British Columbia — Filipino-Canadian candidates running in British Columbia’s upcoming local elections came together with community members for a morning of introductions, conversation and networking at a community “miting de avance” held in New Westminster on September 26.

Hosted at Balai in the Borough in Queensborough Landing, the meet-and-greet breakfast provided a more informal setting for members of the Filipino community to become acquainted with candidates seeking local office ahead of the October 17 general local elections.

The gathering ran from 9AM to 11AM, beginning with an hour of business networking over a $30 mini-silog buffet breakfast, followed by the introduction of Filipino-Canadian candidates from 10AM to 11AM. 

Rather than the large rallies commonly associated with a traditional miting de avance in the Philippines, the New Westminster event took the form of a community breakfast – bringing candidates and residents into the same room as the campaign period moves closer to voting day.

Its venue also carried a distinctly Filipino setting. 

Balai in the Borough describes itself as a Filipino restaurant and community space in New Westminster, with a mission centered on sharing Filipino cuisine and hospitality while serving as a gathering place for the community. 

The event comes amid a wider push by Filipino-Canadian candidates seeking positions in local government and school boards across British Columbia this election cycle.

B.C.’s general local elections are scheduled for Saturday, October 17, 2026. Voters across the province will elect officials to municipal councils, regional district boards, school boards and other local governing bodies. 

Unlike provincial elections, local elections in British Columbia are administered by individual local governments, while Elections BC oversees campaign financing and election advertising rules. 

The September 26 gathering was held just one week after the official campaign period began on September 19, placing it in the early stretch of the final month before general voting day. Candidate nominations closed on September 11. 

For Filipino-Canadian candidates, the breakfast offered an opportunity to introduce themselves directly to community members outside the usual campaign materials and online posts, while attendees had a chance to see the people seeking roles in the local institutions that oversee municipal services and public education.

Those offices can have a direct role in decisions affecting everyday community life. Depending on the jurisdiction, voters on October 17 will choose mayors, councillors, school trustees and other local representatives. 

In New Westminster itself, eligible voters will elect one mayor, six city councillors and seven school trustees, with successful candidates serving four-year terms from November 2026 to November 2030. 

The Filipino-Canadian meet-and-greet was one of the community-level activities taking place during the campaign period as candidates continue introducing their platforms and backgrounds ahead of the October 17 vote.