Municipal politics: Community advocate runs for city councillor

Phillippinecanadanews.com
Oct. 3, 2022

Erlinda Insigne, a Filipino- Canadian community advocate and realtor, is running for Councillor for Ward 4 in the City of Vaughan, Ontario on October 24, 2022. Ward 4 comprises the geographic boundaries of communities in Steeles Ave. North, Highway 40, Keele St. East, Bathurst and Dufferin Sts. West, and Teston Rd. South.

Insigne is motivated to run for the election as a City Councillor for three reasons: First, Diversity. She identified little or no diversity on Council -- she wants to change it. Second, Strong Advocacy on community issues like reducing gridlock, reducing taxes, and better safety for seniors. Third, Communications -- she would increase communications with taxpayers by having a quarterly meeting on community issues and developing a video newsletter through social media.

Born near Baguio City, Philippines, and part of eight siblings, Erlinda immigrated to Canada in 1974. She is married to Tony Insigne, a realtor, and they are blessed with two boys. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of the Philippines and also completed a diploma in Computer Programming at Ryerson University in 1980. She worked at Sears Canada in the Buying Office Department & in Information Technology for 31 years and is engaged in the real estate business, as well.

Being a community leader, as president of the Filipino-Canadian Association of Vaughan(FCAV), she is credited as the architect of the twinning of Baguio City and Vaughan City as Sister Cities in Ontario. For over 30 years, she devoted her life to helping and improving the well-being of seniors by introducing many community programs such as cultural & group dancing activities, martial arts, and community gardening. As a volunteer, she stresses: “A safer and supportive community for seniors is a right and seniors need physical activity, social interaction, entertainment, mental stimulation, and a purpose.”

Civic Hero award

For eight years, she served as a member of the Police Community Liaison Committee 4th district from 2004 to 2012. She was President of the Lakeview Estate Ratepayers Association from 2004 to 2008. On February 4, 2014, Insigne received the “Civic Hero Award” from the City of Vaughan Council “for her community leadership, volunteerism, and active involvement in the Filipino community.”

If elected Councillor Insigne plans to 1) Find new ways of generating new revenues through energy and maintenance savings; 2) Introduce and expedite a Granny Flats program allowing it to be built in backyard spaces, whereby homeowners can sell or gift their homes to their kids who need the space to grow a family but cannot afford the skyrocketing prices; 3) Reduce gridlock on our major streets by lobbying the Big City Mayors in the GTA and request the Province to lower the high cost of Highway 407 by half so that more people can afford it. She cited that “We have a highway that’s practically not used to its potential. She believes that an opportunity program to relieve gridlock on our major roads must be bold and outside the box”.

Moreover, once given the opportunity of becoming a member of the Vaughan Council, Insigne will work towards introducing a 5-point plan to strengthen sustainable urban development for Vaughan to mitigate climate change such as a) reducing dependency on the car by strengthening our transit system, b) adding more EV charging stations, c) improving water conservation and wastewater management, d) supporting urban farming, and e) implementing the green architecture.

In her campaign posters, the question: Why should people vote for Erlinda Insigne? The answers: Erlinda believes that new blood is good for democracy! Erlinda represents a fresh perspective on community issues! Erlinda loves helping people because people come first for her!!