Former Winnipegger and community leader Jean Guiang-Santoro is awarded as one of RBC’s Top 25 Canadian Immigrants. She organized FIDWAM or Filipino Domestic Workers Association of Manitoba that has been advancing the rights of live-in caregivers in Canada for 35 years. Guiang-Santoro was also president of the Philippine Association of Manitoba, a representative to the National Organization of Immigrant and Visible Minority Women of Canada, founding member of the Coalition of Filipino Canadians on Violence Prevention, a board director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation and executive director of the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba.
“It is a humbling experience and truly a great honour to be recognized for all the things that I have contributed to my community especially to the newly -arrived immigrants and foreign domestic workers if they struggle to be part of our society and free from abuses and mistreatment,” said Guiang-Santoro.
It was Guiang-Santoro’s dedication to volunteering and advocacy that saw her build a true legacy as a Manitoban. Honoured with Order of Manitoba and Canadian, she was the first Filipino awarded the Citation for Canadian Citizenship.
Guiang-Santoro is now based in Ontario and enjoying her retirement while she still gives back to her church as a communion minister, volunteer teacher and more. “Being accepted for who I am and what I am capable of doing as a contributor to a new country and society has been my favourite part of being a Canadian.”
Guiang-Santoro , together with the other winners will receive a commemorative plaque and ceremonial gift package. Winners will also be featured online at canadianimmigrant.ca/rbctop25 and in the September print edition of Canadian Immigrant magazine.
