Joyce Rodriguez for Councillor, Ward 2 and 6, Brampton

Joyce Rodriguez for Councillor, Ward 2 and 6, Brampton

During the third annual gala night of the Federation of Filipino Canadians of Brampton last May 27th, Joyce Rodriguez announced her nomination to run for council in Brampton in the upcoming November municipal elections.

She acknowledged that it is time to elect someone who will listen to and represent the unique needs of a diverse and multicultural community. She told the crowd that “we are visible and should be visible, but never, ever think of ourselves as minorities.”

A 17-year resident of Brampton, she is competing with five other candidates to represent Wards 2 and 6. Ward 2 is bounded by McLaughlin Road to the west, Mayfield to the north, Heart Lake to the east, and Bovaird to the south. Ward 6 is bounded by Winston Churchill to the west, Mayfield to the north, McLaughlin to the east, north of Bovaird, and Chinguacousy to the east, south of Bovaird, until the south boundary between Brampton and Mississauga. Ward 2 has enjoyed rapid housing developments since the last municipal elections, while Ward 6 is currently mostly agricultural lands.

Joyce migrated to Canada 33 years ago with her parents and four brothers. She was a City of Etobicoke high school honour student, before moving to Hamilton to attend McMaster University. She is an author of two Philippine heritage publications: My First Abakada Alphabet, a flashcard reading tool to help young readers learn the English alphabet along with the Filipino alphabet; and Isang Daan, a coffee-table book featuring photographs she has taken herself during a trip to the Philippines for the centennial celebration of Philippine independence in 1998. Earlier this year, she flew to Manila to interview local charitable agencies to learn more about the relief efforts after the Leyte mudslide. She also visited and adopted a rural high school in Antique, and is currently soliciting donations of books and school supplies from her friends and family here in Canada.

In the greater Toronto area, the name Joyce Rodriguez is synonymous with “busy with volunteering”. She is a member of the Boards of Director of Peel Multicultural Council, Filipino Health and Education Foundation, Federation of Filipino Canadians of Brampton, and Our Lady Mother of Priests Foundation.

She is also a committee member for the Finance, Personnel and Administration Committee of the Peel Multicultural Council, and the Community Relations Officer of the Federation of Filipino Canadians of Brampton. For several years, she served as a member of the School Council at St. Brigid School, acting also as its parish rep in the Stained Glass Committee of St. Jerome’s Catholic Church during its construction phase.

For more information, please call Danny Bitanga at (416) 451-3320 or Joyce Rodriguez at (905) 796-0573.

(PRESS RELEASE)