Who are we
Migrante Alberta was founded in August 2013 in Edmonton. It is affiliated with Migrante Canada, a national alliance of 20 Filipino migrants organization from BC to the Maritimes.
Migrante is a national democratic organization that organize the Filipino migrants and diaspora. In the Province of Alberta, Migrante it is a registered non-profit advocacy and self help organization. We address the immediate issues, rights and well-being facing migrants and our compatriots. We provide assistance through referrals, advocate and campaign on migrants’ issues. We work closely with labour unions and community based organizations. We directly tie the issues of Filipinos in the province to the root causes of our migration displaced through the Philippine labour export program.
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Campaign and Advocacy
We bring public attention to the plight of migrants and precarious workers through different avenues with the aim of getting broad public support and pro-migrant public awareness that has a vision for change.
Network and Alliance Building
We continue to build relationships and broad network of advocates to promote strong support for all migrant workers. Our allies include labour unions, grassroots migrant organizations, women organizations and workers organizations. We also conduct dialogue and seek audience with concerned government agencies (both in Canada and in the Philippines) to discuss migrant policies and legislation.
International Solidarity
Through our umbrella organizations, we uphold harmonious cooperation among migrant association in the province, in Canada and around the world. We unite with them based on issues as well as anti-imperialist basis of unity. Migrante is an active member of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) as well as the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS).
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Friends
The Learning Centre
Alberta Workers Association for Research and Education (AWARE)
Climate Justice Edmonton
Memoria Viva Society of Edmonton
Association of Mexicans in Calgary
Women for Rights and Empowerment
Anakbayan Alberta
Friends of Medicare
John Humphrey Centre for Peace and Human Rights
Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 40​
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Migrante Executive Committee and staff
Vangie Cayanan
Chairperson
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Vangie was a migrant worker. She was a Manager in service and hospitality sector by profession in the Philippines before coming to Canada. Her personal experience made her a a staunch activist for migrants' rights. She is currently a baker by profession
Novie Mae Sambat
Vice Chairperson
Novie is a founding member of Migrante Alberta. She graduated in Montreal with a degree in Social Work. She currently works as a settlement councillor. She has been providing support to many newly arrived Filipinos in Edmonton for over a decade.
Clarizze Truscott
Secretary General
Clarizze’s heart for underserved immigrants lies from her own family’s experience of being undocumented. She has been a long time migrants' advocate and assist new comers in her City. Clarizze runs a printing business and a newspaper publisher in Fort Saskatchewan for 25 years.
Cynthia Palmaria
Treasurer
Cynthia came to Canada in 1987 after being separated from her parents that were migrant workers for 10 years. She was active in the women's movement before becoming the finance officer of Migrante Alberta. She is based in Edmonton and works at University of Alberta faculty of Medicine teaching Radiation Therapy.
Jay Zapata
Member At Large
Jay is a founding member of Migrante Alberta and staunch migrants' advocate. He is a public sector worker and have been active leader of Migrante in the City of Calgary.
Louis Pagaling
Member At Large
Louis was a migrant worker when he came to Canada in 2009. He move to Fort McMurray in 2011 from Quebec. Louis had a long experience in labour rights as a labour unionist in the Philippines. He is currently working as a Machinist.
Mae
Member At Large
Mae is based in Calgary
Marco Luciano
Director
Marco moved to Montreal from the Philippines in 1986. He was a union organizer and labour educator before he moved to Alberta in 2013. He is the coordinator for International Migrants Alliance (IMA) for Canada
