25 September 2024 – Philippine Consul General Emma R. Sarne paid a courtesy call on Calgary City Mayor Jyoti Gondek at Calgary City Hall last 24 September 2024 marking a significant milestone in the continued strengthening of Philippine-Canadian relations at the local level.

Consul General Sarne expressed her appreciation to Mayor Gondek and the city government for its welcoming and inclusive policies which have made Calgary a  thriving home for some 89,000 Filipinos. Mayor Gondek replied that the Filipino Community is an integral part of the multicultural fabric of the city of Calgary, highlighting their contributions to the local economy, as well as to the development, and enrichment of the diversity of the city. 

Filipinos in Calgary are engaged in the critical economic sectors of healthcare, education, and service industries. Filipinos also make their mark in the cultural landscape of the city through their active participation in the annual Calgary Stampede and the Fiesta Filipino festival. The meeting underscored the close-knit relationship between Calgary and the growing Filipino diaspora, one of the largest immigrant groups in the city.

Consul General Emma Sarne (left) with Mayor Jyoti Gondek (right) 24 September 2024 (Calgary PCG)

Consul General Sarne also took the opportunity to enlist the support of the city as the Philippine Consulate General in Calgary will celebrate the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Canada in December 2024. She also informed the Mayor of the other projects of the Consulate such as the upcoming 9th Winter Escapade tour happening in February 2025.

According to the Statistics Canada Census of 2021, Calgary is home to 89,055 residents who claim Filipino heritage, and has the largest concentration of Filipinos in the province of Alberta.