First Filipino-Canadian Appointed to Senate of Canada

proud to be pinoy

8 September 2012 - Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced on September 07 the appointment of Filipino-Canadian Tobias C. Enverga Jr. to the Senate of Canada effective immediately.

Senator Enverga was one of five distinguished Canadians joining the 105-seat Senate of Canada where they are expected to serve until the age of 75.   Senator Enverga fills one of two vacant seats for Ontario while the rest of the quintet will represent Quebec, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick.

"I look forward to working with these talented individuals," the Prime Minister stated. "Their skills and experience will help to further advance our shared goals of jobs, growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians."

Prior to his appointment, Senator Enverga was a project manager at the Bank of Montreal, where he has worked for more than 30 years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Letran College in the Philippines, a Masters Certificate in Project Management from the Schulich School of Business at York University, and a Computer Studies Certificate from Centennial College.

Mr. Enverga has been involved in various organizations and a number of charitable projects. He is the first Filipino-Canadian elected in the City of Toronto, and served as Trustee to the Toronto Catholic District School Board. He is Co-Chair of the Asian Heritage Month Celebration for the Greater Toronto Area and was previously a Director of the Canadian Multicultural Council - Asians in Ontario.  He is also the founder of the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation and a former president of the Philippine Independence Day Council.  In 2012, Mr. Enverga was the recipient of the Queen's 60th Diamond Jubilee medal of distinction.

Within the Filipino community in Toronto, Mr. Enverga is known for his active involvement in charitable projects in the Philippines which include medical missions, building schools, churchers and artesian wells, funding livelihood training programs, and supporting Bantay Bata and GK Villages in Camarines Norte and Quezon City.  For his exceptional contribution to reconstruction, progress and development in the Philippines, Mr. Enverga was conferred the Linkapil Award by the Office of the President in 2008.

"The Philippine Embassy in Ottawa hails the appointment of Senator Enverga together with Filipino communities across Canada.  Slowly but surely, Filipino excellence continues to gain recognition in the highest echelons of Canadian officialdom.  We hope that his appointment will inspire other Filipino-Canadians to achieve their own high aspirations in this welcoming land of opportunity," remarked Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie B. Gatan. END