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About Gene"Gene Lara will be a great MPP for Toronto Centre-Rosedale. Her dedication to her community, her many years of activism for justice and equality, her deep understanding of the need to respect and celebrate diversity, is just what the people of Toronto Centre-Rosedale need. She will be a terrific member of the New Democrat team at Queen's Park."
"Gene Lara is committed to building healthy neighbourhoods through strategic partnerships between communities and businesses. Gene represents a new type of leader; one that puts people and community interests first."
Twenty-two years ago, Gene Lara, her journalist husband Ben and their six children left the turmoil of the Philippines to seek a better life in Canada. At the time, Gene was a trade union leader and television host. A Pioneer From The BeginningIn many ways, Gene was a pioneer. After earning a university business degree, she studied with the United Nations and then led a program promoting self-help projects for women in the Philippine countryside. During the 1960s and 1970s, Gene was a delegate to key international gatherings, including the 2nd and 3rd World Women's Conferences. She also received a prestigious scholarship from the International Labour Organization to study co-ops in Europe and the Middle East. After stepping off a plane on a cold winter day in Regina, Sask. in 1981, Gene's life would change forever. Both she and her husband encountered numerous obstacles in their quest to forge a brighter future. At first, Gene endured backbreaking work as a hospital clerk while her husband tried to put his gifted writing skills to use. Standing Up For The DisadvantagedGene's fierce determination and community activism eventually led her to becoming executive director of the Immigrant Women of Saskatchewan, where she earned accolades for assisting immigrant and refugee women gain access to support services. Displaying her eclectic and diverse talents, Gene even hosted an international cooking show on Regina's community cable channel. Five years ago, after her husband's death, Gene moved to Toronto to become executive coordinator of INTERCEDE, a social service agency fighting for the workplace rights of domestic caregivers. In Our CommunityUpon retiring from INTERCEDE, Gene revived the Silayan Community Centre, a local drop-in serving newcomers to St. James Town, Regent Park and Cabbagetown. Working with diverse volunteers, Gene initiated job placement, settlement, seniors and youth mentoring programs. As a result, the community centre is now a thriving beehive of activity. In addition, Gene has served our community in a number of volunteer capacities. As a founding board member of the St. James Town Tenants Network, she mobilized tenants and organized a campaign to bring back rent control. Gene also worked tirelessly as an outreach counsellor at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish to help some of our community's neediest and most vulnerable residents. For A Better FutureGene, a grandmother of four preschool aged children who is deeply concerned about cuts to education and health care programs and the inaction of our elected officials, has now set her sights on representing us at Queen's Park. "We need public health care; we need full-day kindergarten; we need affordable childcare; we need rent control. That's what the NDP's publicpower campaign is all about," says Gene. "You, too, can play a role in our campaign and in building a stronger community. Your vote is your say." |
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Gene with supporters in St. Jamestown.