Pinay community leader in Canada receives prestigious Asian Community Award

A Filipino community leader in Canada has won the Outstanding Asian-Canadian Award given by the Canadian Multicultural Council of Asians earlier this month.

Norma Carpio, described as “one of the most dynamic leaders of the Filipino-Canadian community in the Greater Toronto Area,” received the award last May 4, according to a news release from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

“Ms. Carpio is the former President of the Philippine Independence Day Council and founder of the spectacular Mabuhay! Philippines Festival which is held each year in Toronto,” the DFA release said.

Fourteen awards were given this year to Asian-Canadians originating from the Philippines, Myanmar, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, China, Japan, Laos, Vietnam, Tibet, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Taiwan.

Guest speaker Senator Tobias “Jun” Enverga, Jr., the first Canadian senator of Filipino descent, congratulated and thanked the Asian-Canadian community for their success and contributions to the growth and prosperity of Canada, which he attributed to the enabling environment in Canada and the determination and initiative of Asian migrants themselves.

Aside from Enverga and Carpio, others who lent the distinctive Filipino touch to the gala was the Master of Ceremonies Jeff Rustia, founder of the Canada Philippines Fashion Week, the singers of Filipino descent who won in top Canadian singing contests, and the Fiesta Filipina folkloric troupe.  —KBK, GMA News

Photo courtesy of DFA