2nd update: October 5, 20222, 6:30 P.M.
Updated:October 4, 2022, 2:10 P.M.
Surrey, B.C.
Years of community involvement and advocacy brings her to the political arena
Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
Well-known community leader Narima Dela Cruz is seeking a council seat in the Surrey municipal elections this October 15.
Dela Cruz is the current president of the Filipino Canadian National Congress (FCNC), a duly registered national not-for-profit organization affiliated with the Canada Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group, and is mandated to represent the strong Filipino presence in Canada before the people and Government of Canada.
This is Dela Cruz’s third try at getting elected and she will face fellow Filipino, Ramon Bandong, a financial adviser.
Dela Cruz is a long-time community advocate and leader with 15 years of service to Surrey as a volunteer and community partner for various non-profit organizations.
Aside from heading FCNC, she is also the founder of Surrey’s Filipino non-profit SPIDS.
“I am the truly independent voice for Surrey!” Dela Cruz (Independent) said of her candidacy. She commits to bringing City Hall closer to the people by conducting bimonthly townhall meetings in the six town centers; advocating for more federal and provincial support to ensure affordability of living conditions; and seeking more action on homelessness and mental health issues.
“It’s very hectic, of course,” she said of the campaign trail in a report by surreynowleader.com.
“I’m an Independent, so it’s not easy. I’ve been working hard, I’ve been door-knocking every single day with my volunteers. We don’t have the resources that the slates have, of course, so I’m going directly to voters,” the report added.
Concerning affordability issues, she says she would advocate for more support from the federal and provincial governments to “augment” Surrey’s city budget and plans involving home ownership and renting, unemployment, medical and dental benefits, for the construction of more hospitals and schools in Surrey. She also seeks for more support for small businesses, the self-employed, professionals and post-secondary students, the report also said.
Dela Cruz says she’ll also fight for more public amenities for all: “Extra spaces for community building and connection, for performances and the arts, safe refuge during heat waves or extreme weather conditions, safe and affordable year-round recreational space for parents and children.”
If she’s elected, Dela Cruz says she also wants to consult Surrey residents on their thoughts about replacing the at-large electoral system with a ward system.
Asked about her decision to seek the council seat as an independent candidate in Luisa Marshall’s “Simply the Best” talk show, Dela Cruz said she wanted to be a “true” independent voice of the people.
“The political atmosphere in Surrey has changed through the years. I think this is the best decision I could ever make. I would be representing entirely my boss. When I say boss, I mean the people of Surrey. I don’t have a boss that is a slate or party. I am the truly independent voice for Surrey,” she said.
Marshall noted that there has been an increase in the number of Filipino-Canadians seeking to be elected in British Columbia and asked why the candidates believe it’s important to have Filipino representation in the municipal councils.
“I’ve been advocating for that (Filipino representation) for forever. Not only as an elected rep but in all aspects of society. I have always been moving Filipino-Canadians to be involved, to engage, to be part of the day-to-day decision making in whatever sector of society,” Dela Cruz told Marshall.
Six percent of Surrey’s population of about 600,000 are Filipinos according to the 2016 Census on Population. It is the fourth largest immigrant group there.
On Saturday, October 15, 2022, eligible voters will cast their ballots to elect 1 mayor, 8 councillors and 6 school trustees.
Dela Cruz resides in North Surrey with husband Joel and children Glisha and Daryl. Daryl is well-known for hi advocacy in transportation issues.
She is a court and medical interpreter and realtor by profession.
She holds the distinction of being a recipient of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Award and Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award, among many other recognitions.