By Joecel Trinidad
Montréal, August 18, 2025
History was made Monday as Stephanie Valenzuela, city councillor for the Darlington district, was officially announced as the first Filipino-Canadian candidate for borough mayor in Montreal. Valenzuela will lead Ensemble Montréal’s slate in Côte-des-Neiges—Notre-Dame-de-Grâce (CDN–NDG), the city’s most populous borough and one of its most culturally diverse.
Breaking Barriers in Montreal Politics
Valenzuela’s candidacy marks a milestone for Montreal’s Filipino community, one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the city. While Filipino-Canadians have long been active in civic life and community organizations, Valenzuela’s run for borough mayor represents the first time one of their own has been positioned to lead a borough administration.
“I was born and raised in CDN–NDG, and my journey has always been intertwined with this community,” Valenzuela said. “As a future mother, I want to ensure every family here feels safe and supported. This borough gave so much to me and my family—it’s my turn to give back.”
A Team Reflecting Diversity
Standing alongside Soraya Martinez Ferrada, Ensemble Montréal’s mayoral candidate and party leader, Valenzuela was presented as the cornerstone of a team that embodies the diversity of CDN–NDG.
The roster includes:
Milany Thiagarajah (Darlington), community leader in sports and culture.
Yvonne Nguyen (Côte-des-Neiges), immigration lawyer and Vietnamese community advocate.
Peter Shatilla (Notre-Dame-de-Grâce), entrepreneur.
Alexandre Teodoresco (Loyola), innovation and digital transformation specialist.
Sonny Moroz (Snowdon), incumbent councillor seeking re-election.
“This team represents the communities that make CDN–NDG strong,” Martinez Ferrada said. “Stephanie’s candidacy is a source of pride not only for the borough but for the Filipino-Canadian community and the city as a whole.”
Priorities for the Borough
Valenzuela’s platform centers on pressing local issues:
Expanding affordable housing at sites like Namur-Hippodrome and the former YMCA NDG.
Enhancing neighbourhood safety with more funding for crime prevention programs.
Building a multisport center in Côte-des-Neiges and increasing outdoor sports options.
Investing in infrastructure and flood protection to meet the borough’s long-term needs.
“These aren’t abstract promises,” Valenzuela said. “They are grounded in the real struggles residents face every day—housing, safety, recreation, and infrastructure.”
A Historic Candidacy
For Montreal’s Filipino community, Valenzuela’s candidacy is a moment of recognition and visibility. “Her run reflects decades of hard work by Filipino-Canadians who have contributed to the fabric of this city,” said a community leader at the announcement.
As the municipal campaign gains momentum, all eyes will be on CDN–NDG to see whether residents will make history by electing the borough’s first Filipino-Canadian mayor.
Post comments (0)