6 October 2016 – Consul General Julius D. Torres of the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that he led a consular team to Medicine Hat for an outreach mission on 1 and 2 October 2016, providing passport and notarial services to over 230 Filipinos residing in that city and surrounding areas.

The outreach, held at the Holiday Inn Express Medicine Hat, was organized in cooperation with the Filipino Canadian Association of Medicine Hat (FCAMH) headed by its President, Ms. Jean Beriault.  During the two-day outreach, the Consulate was able to process 187 passport applications, 42 notarial and registry services, and three applications for dual citizenship.

At a get-together held at the venue on the evening of 1 October, Consul General Torres welcomed Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston and Mr. Glen Motz, Progressive Conservative Party candidate for Parliament for the federal riding (electoral district) of Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner.

In his remarks during the get-together, Consul General Torres thanked the FCAMH for their assistance in organizing the outreach and congratulated them for the continued strength and productivity of the association.  Mayor Clugston noted that Filipinos were an important part of the Medicine Hat community, and commended the association for its close working relationship with the city.  Mr. Motz, who is candidate for Parliament at a by-election to be held in Medicine Hat on 26 October, thanked the community for inviting him and his wife, and assured them that he will work closely with the community should he be elected.

Filipinos in Medicine Hat – 264 km southeast of Calgary and Alberta’s sixth largest city – mostly work in the meat and plant nursery/greenhouse industries, although a number have also been successful entrepreneurs.  The FCAMH, as the largest Filipino community association in the city, has been fully engaged in city and community projects, working closely with city officials in promoting the well-being of Filipinos in the community.