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 non-profit advocacy and self help organization. In Alberta, we address the immediate issues 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.
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 Lobbying
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 legislations.
International Solidarity
Through our umbrella organization, we uphold harmonious cooperation among migrant association around the world. Migrante is an active member of the International Migrants Alliance (IMA) as well as the International League of People’s Struggles (ILPS).
Friends
The Learning Centre (Edmonton)
Alberta Workers Association for Research and Education (AWARE) (Edmonton)
Climate Justice Edmonton
Memoria Viva Society of Edmonton
Association of Mexicans in Calgary
Calgary Social Workers for Social Justice
Women for Rights and Empowerment
Anakbayan Alberta
Migrante Executive Committee and staff
Connie Monana
Chairperson
Connie is a migrant caregiver in Edmonton. She was a midwife by profession back in the Philippines. She came to Canada in 2011 as a temporary foreign worker and a health care aide in an assisted living facility.
Nova Porquia
Vice Chairperson
Nova came to Canada as a live-in caregiver. She graduated in Mass Communications in Western Visayas State University. She was an active organizer for an environmental group back home. Nova is now a health worker in Red Deer and an active union member. She is currently a member of the Human Rights Committee of the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).
Jay Zapata
Secretary General
Jay is a founding member of Migrante Alberta and staunch migrants' advocate. He is based in Calgary. He is a public sector worker and have been active leader of Migrante in the City of Calgary.
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.
Novie Mae Sambat
Member At Large
Novie is a social worker that works as a settlement councillor. She has been providing support to many newly arrived Filipinos in Edmonton.
Clarizze Truscott
Member At Large
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.
Ruben Acosta
Member At Large
Ruben was active in trade union organizing in the Philippines before immigrating into Canada. He works in the telecoms industry and currently resides in Fort McMurray.
Marco Luciano
Director
Marco moved to Montreal from the Philippines in 1986. He was a union organizer and educator before he moved to Alberta in 2013. He was also a co-founder of the Immigrant Workers Centre in Montreal and the Canada-wide alliance Migrante Canada. He is the coordinator for International Migrants Alliance (IMA) for Canada