![](https://philcongencalgary.org/public/blogs/2024/02/consulate-holds-outreach-mission-in-lac-la-biche20240204005036.png)
14 August
2017 – Consul General Julius D. Torres of the Philippine Consulate General in
Calgary led a Consulate team on an outreach mission to Lac La
Biche, Alberta from 12 to 13 August 2017, providing passport and consular
services to nearly 80 Filipinos in the town and surrounding areas.
The
outreach mission, held at the Canalta Hotel Lac La Biche, was organized in
cooperation with the Duterte Volunteers of Alberta headed by Mr. Benjamin
Lindo, and the Filipino community of Lac La Biche led by Mr. Adrian Manalese.
During
the two-day outreach, the Consulate was able to process 73 passport renewals
and four notarial services. Seven
Filipinos also registered as Overseas Voters during the outreach mission.
Volunteers
from the Duterte Volunteers and from the Filipino community of Lac La Biche
assisted the Consulate team in the outreach mission by finding the appropriate
venue for the outreach and publicizing the outreach mission through their
community organizations and social circles.
They also acted as ushers during the outreach mission and ensured the
orderly flow of people at the venue.
Consul
General Torres and the Consulate team also attended a get-together organized by
the community at the Kinsman Centre. In
his remarks, Consul General Torres thanked the community for their warm welcome
and their assistance during the outreach, commending how close-knit the Lac La
Biche community was.
He encouraged
the attendees to
take more active roles in their local
community as
well as in Philippine political affairs by registering and voting, both in
Philippine and Canadian elections. He noted that there are
very few Canadian political leaders of Filipino heritage despite the fact that
Filipinos are the fastest growing visible minority in the country. Consul General Torres expressed his hope that greater local
community involvement by Filipinos would pave the way for more political
leaders of Filipino heritage in the future.
He also invited the members of the community to participate in the forthcoming Winter Escapade tour in February 2018, and spread the news to their Canadian friends.