A Filipina-Canadian has made history in Montréal after being elected borough mayor of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce in the city’s local elections on November 2, 2025.
Hon. Stephanie Valenzuela, a first-generation Filipino-Canadian and graduate of McGill University’s Political Science program, became Montréal’s first Filipina-Canadian borough mayor. She previously served as the city councillor for the Darlington district, where she was also the first Canadian of Filipino heritage to hold that position in 2021.
The Philippine Embassy in Canada congratulated Valenzuela on her victory, describing it as a moment of pride for Filipinos in the country. The Embassy noted that she has long been active in community and non-profit work, consistently promoting empowerment and representation for residents of Côte-des-Neiges.
“Mayor Valenzuela continues to dedicate her efforts to empowering and representing the Côte-des-Neiges community, embodying the spirit of service and leadership that reflects the best of the Filipino diaspora in Canada,” the Embassy said in a statement.
