Filipino Canadians in Scarborough use food ballots and storytelling to prepare for Toronto's 26 October election

The Filipino-Canadian Civic Action Network and KAPISANAN, with Voice the Vote, hosted Kwentuhan with Kasamas at BGC East Scarborough on 3 October, sharing community consultation findings and offering voter education and conversations with city council candidates ahead of Toronto's municipal election on 26 October.

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Filipino Canadians gathered at BGC East Scarborough on 3 October for Kwentuhan with Kasamas, where organisers used art, food and conversation to encourage civic participation ahead of Toronto's municipal election, Mabuhay Canada reported. The event was hosted by the Filipino-Canadian Civic Action Network (FCCAN) and KAPISANAN in collaboration with Voice the Vote.

FCCAN vice-chair Clement Nocos presented findings from a community town hall where participants identified neighbourhood problems, ranked priorities and suggested solutions. Organisers grouped responses into 12 topics, with housing affordability and community safety emerging most frequently.

Participants also voted for a favourite ulam (main dish) and merienda (snack) in a mock ballot. "We want to demystify the voting booth and what that looks like," FCCAN chair Veronica Javier said. Toronto artist and educator Eric Tigley led an arts workshop on storytelling, and community organiser Josel Angelica Gerardo led a workshop explaining different levels of government and encouraging participants to learn about local candidates. The event ended with city council candidates speaking with attendees about neighbourhood concerns.

Election day is Monday, 26 October, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., according to the City of Toronto. To vote, an eligible voter must be a Canadian citizen, at least 18 years of age, and a resident of Toronto, or a non-resident who, or whose spouse, owns or rents property in the city, and must vote in the ward where they live. Javier said FCCAN also welcomes people who cannot yet vote through education and volunteering, and that its community surveys do not ask about immigration status. FCCAN plans to share its consultation findings through infographics until election day.