Latest news with #FilipinoCanadians
Winnipeg Free Press
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Winnipeg Free Press
It takes a village…
Northwest Winnipeg 'Mabuhay' is a Filipino greeting that primarily translates to 'long live,' which makes it a fitting namesake for the local project beginning to turn heads in Manitoba — and far beyond. On June 21, the Province of Manitoba pledged $300,000 over the next three years in support of Mabuhay District Inc., a local non-profit with a mission to establish a district in Winnipeg which celebrates Filipino Canadians and their art, businesses, families and community. The seed was planted in 2019 and has since snowballed in a way that president Joseph Orobia cannot believe, he said. In fact, he was still processing the funding announcement four days later, during an interview at Architects at Play, an architecture firm he co-owns with Grant Labossiere. Supplied image Mabuhay District Inc. is a local non-profit which has set out to create a space in the city celebrating Filipino Canadian culture and heritage. Orobia, who is Filipino, wouldn't describe the plans as a 'Little Manilla,' but rather a celebration of the Filipino Canadian culture itself: 'A culture that exists here, now, that's very different from the culture that came here.' The final product, which is being developed through a partnership with the Manitoba Filipino Business Council, Kultivation Festival, and Mabuhay District Inc., is always changing, but Orobia hopes to include a performing arts centre, a Filipino Canadian museum, local businesses — from startups to established organizations — and recreation opportunities such as a sheltered basketball court. It's tentatively planned for northwest Winnipeg. Orobia was a driving force in getting the Kultivation Festival — which will take place Aug. 18 to 24 this year — going. The idea was to introduce a modern take on Filipino arts and culture — a concept which was brought up to what was, at the time, a group of about 10 to 11 people, who 'jumped all over it.' ''This is exactly what we need right now,'' he recalled someone say. 'It basically snowballed from there, and we grew to over 200 people in five months.' There were a few setbacks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the festival now brings in thousands of attendees each year. 'It was incredible,' Orobio said, adding that the success has introduced him to Filipino professionals from basically every line of work. 'I was like, 'where have you guys been?'' 'It's shone a light on what Filipinos can do … and the district is meant to be a physical manifestation of what the festival represents,' he said. Once a solid idea for the district was established through a think tank in 2023, a regular committee was formed in January of 2024 and the group officially became a non-profit the following June. 'The stuff we've been able to do over the past year is mind-blowing,' Orobio said. 'It's an investment in every Filipino Manitoban,' he added, of the recent announcement. 'It's huge for our community, it's huge for Winnipeg, it's huge for Manitoba.' The Filipino community isn't necessarily known for working together, which isn't a detriment, he said, but this also 'throws all that into contrast,' creating a collaborative environment for Filipino Winnipeggers to learn from each other, as well as surrounding people such as the local Jewish and Italian communities in the city — both of which have been extremely supportive. Mondays A weekly look at news and events that matter in your communities. The new funding will also get things moving quicker than originally thought, which is optimistic for older community members who want to see things happen in their lifetimes. 'There is a sense of urgency, but we want to do it right,' the architect said. Plans for the near future include a feasibility study — pooling resources and figuring out how to continue in a sustainable way — developing institutional capacity, and working on fundraising efforts. Currently, ways people can help include becoming a member, using specific skills on a certain committee, volunteering at future events, and donating — which can currently be done through a campaign in which you can purchase metal pins depicting the district's logo. For more information, visit or @mabuhaydistrict on Instagram and Facebook. Emma Honeybun Emma Honeybun is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. She graduated RRC Polytech's creative communications program, with a specialization in journalism, in 2023. Email her at Read full biography Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider becoming a subscriber. Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support.
Yahoo
02-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Toronto family 'devastated' after three kids killed in alleged drunk driving crash
TORONTO — The family of three Toronto children who were killed in an alleged drunk driving crash says they are 'utterly devastated' as they plan a funeral for the victims later this month. Ramone Lavina, 15, his younger brother Jace, 13, and their six-year-old sister Mya died in a collision on May 18 that Toronto police allege was caused by an impaired teen driver. The family's lawyer confirmed a publication ban on the children's identities was lifted on Thursday. Police have said the crash happened shortly after midnight at the eastbound off-ramp at Renforth Drive and Highway 401. They said a 19-year-old behind the wheel of a Dodge Caravan was allegedly speeding as he exited the highway, lost control, went over a raised median and slammed into a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that was stopped at a red light. Inside the minivan were a mother, her four children and a male acquaintance of the family, police said. Ramone and Jace were pronounced dead at the scene, while Mya was rushed to hospital but died a short time later. The mother, Jade Galve, her 10-year-old child Avery and the male driver were taken to hospital in stable condition. The Lavina-Galve family said they are reeling from the "unimaginable tragedy," and they thanked the first responders, hospital staff and community members who have provided support. "Although we remain utterly devastated, we are now in the process of planning the funeral for our three dear children, which is something no parent should ever have to endure," the family said in a statement through their lawyer. An online obituary says a funeral for the children is scheduled for June 14. Police said 19-year-old Ethan Lehouillier of Georgetown, Ont., was arrested at the scene of the crash and faces 12 charges, including three counts of impaired driving causing death and three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm. The allegations have not been tested in court. Jim Cantos, a family friend, said in an interview after the crash that the Lavina siblings were "tight-knit." He said he's known the Lavina family for years — the children's father, Maverick Lavina, is an old friend of his sister's, and they went to high school together. "The kids were very respectful,' said Cantos, who coached Ramone at Toronto Future Phenom, a basketball training program in Scarborough. 'Whenever Ramone came to practice, his siblings were there as well, cheering him on. I believe they did everything together.' Cantos said the Lavinas are Filipino Canadian and he'd heard from many in the community who are shaken by the news. He said the family is well-liked in the community. 'The Filipino community is hit hard by this,' he said, adding it's been a tough time for Filipino Canadians, especially after the late April tragedy at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, where 11 people were killed after an SUV rammed into a crowd. 'Filipinos, we move as a group… We are very tight family-wise and community-wise," said Cantos. 'No parent wants to go through something as tragic as burying their own kid. That's something that a kid does to their parents, not the other way around.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Rianna Lim and Alex Nino Gheciu, The Canadian Press
Hamilton Spectator
02-06-2025
- Hamilton Spectator
Toronto family ‘devastated' after three kids killed in alleged drunk driving crash
TORONTO - The family of three Toronto children who were killed in an alleged drunk driving crash says they are 'utterly devastated' as they plan a funeral for the victims later this month. Ramone Lavina, 15, his younger brother Jace, 13, and their six-year-old sister Mya died in a collision on May 18 that Toronto police allege was caused by an impaired teen driver. The family's lawyer confirmed a publication ban on the children's identities was lifted on Thursday. Police have said the crash happened shortly after midnight at the eastbound off-ramp at Renforth Drive and Highway 401. They said a 19-year-old behind the wheel of a Dodge Caravan was allegedly speeding as he exited the highway, lost control, went over a raised median and slammed into a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that was stopped at a red light. Inside the minivan were a mother, her four children and a male acquaintance of the family, police said. Ramone and Jace were pronounced dead at the scene, while Mya was rushed to hospital but died a short time later. The mother, Jade Galve, her 10-year-old child Avery and the male driver were taken to hospital in stable condition. The Lavina-Galve family said they are reeling from the 'unimaginable tragedy,' and they thanked the first responders, hospital staff and community members who have provided support. 'Although we remain utterly devastated, we are now in the process of planning the funeral for our three dear children, which is something no parent should ever have to endure,' the family said in a statement through their lawyer. An online obituary says a funeral for the children is scheduled for June 14. Police said 19-year-old Ethan Lehouillier of Georgetown, Ont., was arrested at the scene of the crash and faces 12 charges, including three counts of impaired driving causing death and three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm. The allegations have not been tested in court. Jim Cantos, a family friend, said in an interview after the crash that the Lavina siblings were 'tight-knit.' He said he's known the Lavina family for years — the children's father, Maverick Lavina, is an old friend of his sister's, and they went to high school together. 'The kids were very respectful,' said Cantos, who coached Ramone at Toronto Future Phenom, a basketball training program in Scarborough. 'Whenever Ramone came to practice, his siblings were there as well, cheering him on. I believe they did everything together.' Cantos said the Lavinas are Filipino Canadian and he'd heard from many in the community who are shaken by the news. He said the family is well-liked in the community. 'The Filipino community is hit hard by this,' he said, adding it's been a tough time for Filipino Canadians, especially after the late April tragedy at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, where 11 people were killed after an SUV rammed into a crowd. 'Filipinos, we move as a group… We are very tight family-wise and community-wise,' said Cantos. 'No parent wants to go through something as tragic as burying their own kid. That's something that a kid does to their parents, not the other way around.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Winnipeg Free Press
02-06-2025
- Winnipeg Free Press
Toronto family ‘devastated' after three kids killed in alleged drunk driving crash
TORONTO – The family of three Toronto children who were killed in an alleged drunk driving crash says they are 'utterly devastated' as they plan a funeral for the victims later this month. Ramone Lavina, 15, his younger brother Jace, 13, and their six-year-old sister Mya died in a collision on May 18 that Toronto police allege was caused by an impaired teen driver. The family's lawyer confirmed a publication ban on the children's identities was lifted on Thursday. Police have said the crash happened shortly after midnight at the eastbound off-ramp at Renforth Drive and Highway 401. They said a 19-year-old behind the wheel of a Dodge Caravan was allegedly speeding as he exited the highway, lost control, went over a raised median and slammed into a Chrysler Pacifica minivan that was stopped at a red light. Inside the minivan were a mother, her four children and a male acquaintance of the family, police said. Ramone and Jace were pronounced dead at the scene, while Mya was rushed to hospital but died a short time later. The mother, Jade Galve, her 10-year-old child Avery and the male driver were taken to hospital in stable condition. The Lavina-Galve family said they are reeling from the 'unimaginable tragedy,' and they thanked the first responders, hospital staff and community members who have provided support. 'Although we remain utterly devastated, we are now in the process of planning the funeral for our three dear children, which is something no parent should ever have to endure,' the family said in a statement through their lawyer. An online obituary says a funeral for the children is scheduled for June 14. Police said 19-year-old Ethan Lehouillier of Georgetown, Ont., was arrested at the scene of the crash and faces 12 charges, including three counts of impaired driving causing death and three counts of impaired driving causing bodily harm. The allegations have not been tested in court. Jim Cantos, a family friend, said in an interview after the crash that the Lavina siblings were 'tight-knit.' He said he's known the Lavina family for years — the children's father, Maverick Lavina, is an old friend of his sister's, and they went to high school together. 'The kids were very respectful,' said Cantos, who coached Ramone at Toronto Future Phenom, a basketball training program in Scarborough. 'Whenever Ramone came to practice, his siblings were there as well, cheering him on. I believe they did everything together.' Cantos said the Lavinas are Filipino Canadian and he'd heard from many in the community who are shaken by the news. He said the family is well-liked in the community. 'The Filipino community is hit hard by this,' he said, adding it's been a tough time for Filipino Canadians, especially after the late April tragedy at a Filipino street festival in Vancouver, where 11 people were killed after an SUV rammed into a crowd. 'Filipinos, we move as a group… We are very tight family-wise and community-wise,' said Cantos. 'No parent wants to go through something as tragic as burying their own kid. That's something that a kid does to their parents, not the other way around.' This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 2, 2025.
Associated Press
01-06-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Statement by Minister Guilbeault on Filipino Heritage Month
The Government of Canada issues a statement to mark Filipino Heritage Month OTTAWA, ON, June 1, 2025 /CNW/ - Today marks the start of Filipino Heritage Month. This is an opportunity to highlight the achievements and experiences of the third largest Asian community in the country. The Filipino community in Canada is one of the fastest-growing populations, now representing nearly one million people. This community has played a vital role in helping build a stronger and more vibrant Canada. Tragically, this year's celebrations are overshadowed by the horrific attack at Vancouver's Lapu-Lapu Festival on April 26, which claimed the lives of 11 people and left many others injured. This senseless act of violence has deeply affected not only the Filipino community, but all Canadians. As we share in your sorrow and loss, we also stand in solidarity and hope. May this month continue to be a symbol of unity, resilience and strength in the face of adversity. Filipino Canadians have made lasting contributions to this country's vibrant history and continue to shape its future. Members of the community have made their mark in diverse fields including health care, entrepreneurship, the arts, sport, science, finance, social justice and politics. They are integral to our country and have played a key role in building the unified, inclusive society that, today, makes us so proud to be Canadian. Throughout June, I encourage everyone to learn more about the rich traditions and history of the Filipino-Canadian community. And to those celebrating Philippine independence on June 12, I wish you a joyful 127th anniversary. Magkakasama tayo – we are in this together! SOURCE Canadian Heritage
