Filipina Canadian real estate broker running for mayor of Calgary

Grace Yan, candidate for mayor of Calgary. FACEBOOK

“My focus and vision are a Calgary where businesses grow and families thrive.” This is the “battle cry” of Grace Yan, a Filipino Canadian of considerable political ambition and great personal determination. Yan is running for Mayor of Calgary, Alberta this coming civic election on Oct. 18.

A commercial real estate broker by trade, Yan  “wants the city to attract investment through tax breaks and other incentives for big and small businesses, and turn vacant downtown buildings into housing as part of a broader revitalization effort.”

In 1991, Yan initially pursued a career as a paralegal, helping people from all walks of life. Then she branched out into a successful real estate business. She is currently a Director of Sales and Marketing at Coldwell Banker MC Commercial.

While in both professions Yan “developed valuable skills in collaboration and negotiation that serve her well and is considered an asset to be a Mayor of Canada,” according to her campaign portfolio.

Yan’s community engagements include serving on several community organization boards such as with the Canadian Women’s Foundation and Alberta Paralegal Association. She also supports several charities, including Pancreatic Cancer Canada and the B+ Foundation – the latter a children’s cancer charity.

Yan also gained valuable experience as a past NAFTA Alberta Director for the Alberta Association of Professional Paralegals and has received several honors, including a “Women of Influence award in 2019” and pair of “Distinctive Women of Canada” awards.

Her family immigrated to Canada from the Philippines in 1980. Her father, Gil Yan, and mother, Araceli, a registered nurse, have been major inspirations in her life. Grace learned early in life that “to make your dreams come true, hard work and determination are two keys to success and that there are no shortcuts.”

She saw first-hand the effort and hours it required to make her family’s small business in Calgary a success.

Yan always stresses in her campaign sorties that “Calgary deserves leadership that reflects the strength of the community. We are facing unprecedented challenges, and I believe that I am the leader Calgary needs to recover, rebuild, and lead to a prosperous future for all. I will be by your side supporting big and small businesses, youth, arts, education, innovation, sports, non- profits, and economic development. Calgary, I am your relentless advocate today and always.”