Hitting the ground running in Winnipeg
His first visit to Winnipeg was back in the late 1980’s to visit former Honourary Consul Dr. Roland Guzman. His return to Winnipeg during the consular outreach program would be as the newly installed Consulate General in Toronto.
While the mandate of the consular services team was to process as many people as possible, it was Consulate General Chan’s mandate to meet as many people in our Filipino community as possible.
In a courtesy call to the Mayor’s Office at City Hall, Con Gen Chan met with Acting Deputy Mayor Paula Havixbeck for a brief interchange of ideas and insight into the contributions of Filipinos to the City of Winnipeg over the last 50 years. Mayor Sam Katz was unavailable during this time. Unfortunately, no key to the city was presented to Con Gen Chan. Maybe next time.
Not letting any media opportunity pass, an in-studio radio interview at CKJS 810 AM lasted well over an hour during Afternoon Pasada, hosted by Lucille Nolasco. During the interview, Con Gen Chan formally announced the start of consular services at Canad Inns Garden City and urged green Philippine passport holders to renew them in exchange for the new, more secure red Philippine ePassports.
Throughout the course of the weekend, Con Gen Chan made it to several community association picnics including the Bacoor Association picnic and the Pasig Family Picnic at Kildonan Park; Pangasinan Group of Manitoba picnic at St. Vital Park on Saturday afternoon.
On Sunday, Con Gen Chan made an appearance at the annual Philippine Basketball Association Golf Tournament picnic also at Kildonan Park. In addition, he was able to visit the Philippine Canadian Centre of Manitoba on an invitation by PCCM President, Lito Taruc, including several private events on Sunday evening.
