Councillor Candidate for Point Douglas Ward
I first entered City Hall as a volunteer and later staff to Mayor Brian Bowman in 2014. I transitioned from the Mayor’s Office and worked as Executive Assistant to the Point Douglas Ward predecessor, Mike Pagtakhan for 3 years. On October 24, 2018, I successfully won the 2018 Civic Election to become first Taiwan-Chinese Canadian to be elected to Winnipeg’s City Council.
Since being in public office for the past 4 years, I have worked with the residents of Point Douglas and developed an excellent working relationship with several community groups, associations and other grassroots organizations in the neighbourhood. I understand the priorities of Point Douglas and I want to continue to focus on:
● Investment in community service facilities & green space amenities
● Affordable Public Transit Fares & after-school recreational activities
● Downtown revitalization & densification
● Support grassroots & neighbourhood watch groups
In addition to my work and family life, I volunteer on many different local community non profits groups. I am the Chair for the Knights of Rizal – Winnipeg Chapter Inc. Youth Recognition Awards. As part of the UN Safe Cities Global Initiative, I teach newcomer immigrants and Indigenous women practical skills, situational awareness and how to defend themselves.
I am a competitive arm wrestler and a three-time Manitoba Provincial armwrestling champion (both left and right arms!) and was awarded 3 Gold medals in the 2022 Canadian Nationals armwrestling championship. I also volunteer as the Vice-President of the Manitoba Armwrestling Association and Secretary-Treasurer for the Canadian Armwrestling Federation.
In my 8 years working at City Hall both in my capacity as an Executive Assistant and City Councillor, I am very proud to have supported and invested on several infrastructure and community initiatives that have made daily impacts within the community. For example, the completion of the 9 foot tall bronze metal Dr. Jose Rizal Statue at the corner of Old Commonwealth Path and Dr. Jose Rizal Way. Redeveloping public green spaces with new park amenities at Finestone Park and Blue Bird Park. I also support many different cultural organizations in their capital costs to expand their cultures spaces like KaNi Kanichikh, Winnipeg Chinese Community Culture Centre, South Sudanese Culture Centre, and Casa Dos Acores Winnipeg. To view more notable projects, please visit my website at www.vivian4pointdouglas.ca/accomplishments.
There are still many outstanding projects that I have started in my first term of office that I would like to complete. For example, the redevelopment of Northwood Park, Giizhigooweyaabikwe Park, and Fairgrove Park. I will continue to advocate for a new Tyndall Park Community Centre gymnasium and affordable public transit by reducing the cost to $1.00 a ride. Lastly, affordable homes and recreational amenities are always at the top of my mind to help reduce the crime and poverty that our community faces on a daily basis. During the pandemic, it has been very challenging for all Winnipeggers. We must stop trying to solve City issues with reactive band aid solutions – a more proactive and realistic approach where we invest more into the people has to be a top priority in City Hall. To view more of my future plans for the ward, please visit www.vivian4pointdouglas.ca/strategic_investments
My entire adult life I have worked full-time and strived to be my best both professionally and personally. My husband Jeff, who is Filipino, and I have two beautiful children who inspire me every day to work hard, not only for them, but to better the community we live in. I love our City – it’s always been my home. I want to inspire my children, and yours, to fall in love with Winnipeg, like I have, so that they want to stay and make their lives here. With so many young families immigrating to Canada, it is absolutely wonderful to see so many different cultures living in mature neighbourhoods in the Point Douglas Ward. I am passionate about investing in our communities, but I also know that finding the funds to make it happen, amid many other worthy competing civic priorities, will be challenging.
In all my speeches at City Hall during the Budget Council Meetings, I always say, “we heard loud and clear from hundreds of our community members that they want to see investments in community services, in the environment and in the arts, they want to see recreation, and transit and libraries. They also want what we want – a balanced budget – but citizens are asking for more than a fiscally balanced budget – they are also asking for a socially balanced budget.”
If re-elected onto Council, I will continue to bring the passion and dedication I have for the community and be the strong, experienced voice that will represent your interests. Salamat Po!
ADVANCE VOTING POLLING LOCATIONS
City Hall, Council Building, 510 Main Street, 2nd Floor
October 3 – 21 between 9:00am – 4:00pm
Northwood Community Centre, 1415 Burrows Avenue
October 18 – 20 between 3:00pm – 8:00pm
Youth For Christ, Gymnasium, 333 King St
October 4 – 5 between 9:30am – 3:30pm
RRC Polytech, LL Building C, 2055 Notre Dame Avenue
October 12th 12:30pm – 6:30pm & October 13th 9:30am – 3:30pm
Garden City Shopping Centre, Centre Court, 2305 McPhillips Street
Oct 14 – 16 between 12:00pm – 6:00pm
For more available Advance Voting locations and hours throughout the City, visit https://www.winnipeg.ca/clerks/election/election-2022/AdvanceVoting.stm
