Longtime activist is first Filipina to win city council seat in Burnaby, BC

Maita Santiago ran under the New DemocraticParty-affiliated Burnaby Citizens Association, which dominates the city council. PCN

Filipina Canadian Maita Santiago was elected councillor of the City of Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada on Oct. 15, with an impressive 5.28 % or 11,347 votes, making a historic first for Filipino Canadians in municipal politics in the lower mainland.

Santiago, who ran under the New Democratic Party-affiliated Burnaby Citizens Association, which dominates the council, was No. 6 among the city’s eight councillors and one of three new council members elected. There were 27 candidates running for council, six of them incumbents.

The former Migrante International secretary general, longtime community activist and political assistant to  Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Mable Elmore, hopes to bring her experience to city politics. She was a Citizen Representative on Burnaby’s Social Issues Committee and Sub-Committee on Childcare.

The Philippine-born mother of two came in 1977 to Canada, is a small business , an immigration consultant and a longtime resident of Burnaby.

In the City of Kitimat, nurse Edwin Empinado wins his fourth term as City Councilor.

Rod Belleza (left) returns to Richmond City as a School Trustee; in the City of Kitimat, nurse Edwin Empinado wins his fourth term as City Councilor. PCN

In other political news, Rod Belleza returns to Richmond City as a School Trustee. The former Philippine lawyer and financial services salesman was first elected in 2008.

In the City of Kitimat, nurse Edwin Empinado wins his fourth term as City Councilor.

Candidate Narima Dela Cruz failed in her third bid for Surrey City Council despite a well-run campaign as an Independent candidate.