FilCan youth leader runs for TCDSB Ward 5 trustee

FilCan youth leader runs for TCDSB Ward 5 trustee

JOEY ABENILLA

Faith ,Youth and Promise. These are inspirational words which decide and drive a young and intelligent person to aspire for greater participation and leadership within – and -without the Catholic community in the City of Toronto. Rightfully, these are the distinctive traits that best describe Joey Abrenilla, a youthful, faithful and promising and yet, experienced Filipino Canadian professional who is running  for Trustee of Ward 5  in the Toronto Catholic District School Board Toronto, Ontario.

Joey Abrenilla , a practicing occupational therapist in Toronto, recently launched his candidacy to become a Trustee of TCDSB, Canada’s largest Catholic school board , with 92,034 student enrolment in 201 elementary & secondary schools, in the coming October 27, 2014 Toronto municipal elections.

Best known to his friends and colleagues as a youth activist, he is campaigning on a solid platform for youth empowerment and development through “a return to authentic Catholicism” and desirable co-curricular programs propagating and enhancing Christ – centred values and faith-filled learning and practices in the school system.

Born in 1977 to parents Jose Abrenilla, Jr. , a certified public accountant and Fe Andrino, a school teacher, Joey spent his early years in Butuan City, Philippines. The youngest child, his other siblings are Annabelle , an RN and Bryan, a cargo ship chief mate.

A consistent Dean’s Lister, he completed a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy degree in Cebu City’s Velez College in 1999 and has undertaken post-graduate studies in Applied Behavioural Analysis in New Jersey, USA in 2003. Joey is a licenced Occupational Therapist in the Philippines, USA and Canada.

In the Philippines, he was founder, administrator and OT consultant of Butuan Child Care Therapy Centre in 2000-2005. He served also, in 2003-2005, as OT consultant at Little Kaye’s Therapy Centre in Davao City.
Immigrating to Canada in 2005, he became active in the Filipino Canadian community volunteering as the Youth Director of the Archdiocese Filipino Catholic Mission( AFCM) as well as the Philippine Canadian Charitable Foundation-PCCF. His passion for charity work made him the Singles for Christ- North Chapter coordinator of ANCOP- Answering the Cry of the Poor.

Still a bachelor and a leading member of GTA’s CFC Singles for Christ(SFC), Joey’s love for music make him to spend time as musical director of its well-admired choir. A strong advocate of Pro Life, he is a member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 12582

Whenever afforded the chance to serve  as a Catholic school Trustee, Joey being an Occupational Therapist and a proven religious and community youth leader will work towards creating and transforming Board- wide and school – based innovative programs and services that will provide opportunities to students, staff , parents and the community to build on their Catholic faith strongly and socially & purposefully more efficient.

(PRESS RELEASE)