Narima dela Cruz

{{Infobox person

| name = Narima Dela Cruz

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| birth_place = Quezon, Philippines

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| occupation = Realtor, Interpreter, Community Leader, Politician

| spouse = Eng'r. Joel Dela Cruz

| children = Daryl Dela Cruz

Glisha

| parents = Conrado & Perla Arguelles

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Narima Dela Cruz is a prominent Filipino Canadian community leader,CanadianImmigrant.ca, [http://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants/canadas-top-25-immigrants-2012/narima-dela-cruz "Top 25 Canadian Immigrants 2012 - The Winners - Narima dela Cruz"], accessed 28 September 2012. community activist,Marieton Pacheco, [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/14/12/2-pinoys-among-top-25-immigrants-canada "2 Pinoys among Top 25 Immigrants in Canada"], ABS-CBN North America News Bureau, Posted at 06/14/2012 4:44 PM | Updated as of 06/14/2012 11:39 PM accessed 28 September 2012 Canadian Realtor, Language Interpreter, politician, and with multiple awards which include 2012 Top 25 Canadian Immigrants Award,{{Cite web|date=2013-02-01|title=Let's Talk with Narima Dela Cruz - Voted one of Top 25 Canadian Immigrants 2012 - Simply the Best|url=https://www.luisamarshall.com/lets-talk-with-narima-dela-cruz-voted-one-of-top-25-canadian-immigrants-2012/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Luisa Marshall|language=en-US}} Queen's Platinum Jubilee Medal and King Charles Coronation Medal Award.

Philippines to Canada

Born in Quezon, Philippines, Dela Cruz came to Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1998 with her husband and young son where they resided for seven years. Her education and professional background in the Philippines revolved around tourism, education, office administration and law. Adding another child to the family they moved to Surrey, a city in British Columbia within the Metro Vancouver area.CanadianImmigrant.ca, [http://canadianimmigrant.ca/canadas-top-25-immigrants/canadas-top-25-immigrants-2012/narima-dela-cruz "Top 25 Canadian Immigrants 2012 - The Winners - Narima dela Cruz"], accessed 28 September 2012. She has been a Licensed Realtor since 2006 {{Cite web|url=https://canadianimmigrant.ca/settlement/housing/with-tighter-mortgage-rules-and-a-hot-market-is-it-a-good-time-to-be-a-first-time-homebuyer|title = With tighter mortgage rules and a hot market, is it a good time to be a first-time homebuyer?| date=6 April 2016 }} and a Language Interpreter and Translator since 2013.

Recognitions as a Community Volunteer

As Founder {{Cite web|date=2018-05-29|title=Surrey site for Philippine Independence Day Celebration in June|url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/community/surrey-site-for-philippine-independence-day-celebration-in-june/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Surrey Now-Leader|language=en-US}} of the Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS), an organization of Filipino Canadians in the city of Surrey, and a very active community volunteer, Dela Cruz was honoured by a Vancouver and Toronto newspaper and website as one of Canada's top 25 immigrants in 2012.Marieton Pacheco, [http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/06/14/12/2-pinoys-among-top-25-immigrants-canada "2 Pinoys among Top 25 Immigrants in Canada"], ABS-CBN North America News Bureau, Posted at 06/14/2012 4:44 PM | Updated as of 06/14/2012 11:39 PM accessed 28 September 2012 She was also presented the Realtors Care Award from the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver in 2011 for her volunteer activity and philanthropic acts.Alex P. Vidal, [http://alexpvidal.wordpress.com/2012/02/29/senior-community-leader-appeals-lets-vote-for-narima-dela-cruz/ "Senior community leader appeals: Let’s vote for Narima Dela Cruz"], 29 February 2012, accessed 28 September 2012. Through the years, she has volunteered with various mainstream Canadian organizations which include Canadian Red Cross, Canadian Cancer Society of B.C., S.U.C.C.E.S.S., Options Community Service Society, SD36, Surrey Food Bank, Canadian Blood Services, Surrey Food Bank, and BC Transplant Society. Among other mainstream recognition and nominations she was given are from Surrey Leader Newspaper in 2011,{{Cite web|title=Readers Choice awards - [PDF Document]|url=https://fdocuments.net/document/readers-choice-awards-56e3256db6bc3.html|access-date=2022-01-15|website=fdocuments.net|language=en}} Surrey Board of Trade in 2011,{{Cite web|date=2011-02-17|title=Women in Business shortlist announced|url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/business/women-in-business-shortlist-announced/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Surrey Now-Leader|language=en-US}} Surrey Cares Foundation in 2016 & 2019,{{Cite web|last=SurreyCares|date=2019-04-16|title=Celebrating National Volunteer Week|url=https://www.surreycares.org/post/2019/04/16/celebrating-national-volunteer-week|access-date=2022-01-15|website=SurreyCares|language=en}} YWCA Vancouver in 2018,{{Cite web|date=2018-03-09|title=Surrey-based Pinay among 'Women of Distinction' finalists|url=https://watchmendailyjournal.com/2018/03/09/surrey-based-pinay-among-women-distinction-finalists/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Watchmen Daily Journal|language=en-US}} City of Surrey in 2020, and the federal government in 2017 for the Canada 150 Community Awards for Excellence in Volunteerism.{{Cite web|date=2017-12-05|title=Surrey-Centre MP celebrates 31 winners of 'Canada 150' award|url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/community/surrey-centre-mp-celebrates-31-winners-of-canada-150-award/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Surrey Now-Leader|language=en-US}} In 2019, she won among 5 contenders all over Canada the Pinoy (Filipino) of the Year honours of the national Golden Balangay Awards.{{Cite web|last=Mall|first=Rattan|title=Surrey Philippine Independence Day Society (SPIDS) awarded "2019 Most Influential Filipino Community Organization" in Canada {{!}} Indo-Canadian Voice|url=https://voiceonline.com/surrey-philippine-independence-day-society-spids-awarded-2019-most-influential-filipino-community-organization-in-canada/|access-date=2022-01-15|language=en-CA}}

Surrey Civic Election 2014

Ms. Dela Cruz run for Councilor {{Cite news|url=http://www.surreynowleader.com/news/narima-dela-cruz-to-run-for-surrey-council/|title=Narima Dela Cruz to run for Surrey Council|date=June 9, 2014|work=The Surrey Now|access-date=2017-09-02|language=en-gb}}{{Cite web|last=Mall|first=Rattan|title=Barinder Rasode and NDP MLAs Sue Hammell and Jane Shin endorse Narima Dela Cruz for Surrey City Council {{!}} Indo-Canadian Voice|url=https://voiceonline.com/barinder-rasode-and-ndp-mlas-sue-hammell-and-jane-shin-endorse-narima-dela-cruz-for-surrey-city-council/|access-date=2022-01-15|language=en-CA}} for the City of Surrey under the party One Surrey with mayoral candidate Barinder Rasode.{{Cite web|date=2014-10-09|title='One Surrey' team for Rasode|url=https://www.surreynowleader.com/news/one-surrey-team-for-rasode/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Surrey Now-Leader|language=en-US}} She is the first Filipino-Canadian woman to run for public office in the City of Surrey.{{Cite news|url=http://newcanadianmedia.ca/item/20811-q-a-with-surrey-councillor-candidate-narima-dela-cruz|title=Why I'm Running: Narima Dela Cruz in Surrey - New Canadian Media|last=Media|first=New Canadian|access-date=2017-09-02|language=en-gb}} She earned 18, 075 votes.{{Cite web|url=http://www.surrey.ca/election2014/|title=Surrey 2014 Election Results {{!}} Surrey Elections|website=www.surrey.ca|access-date=2017-09-02}} The entire Surrey First Slate of Mayoral Candidate Linda Hepner were elected..

Surrey Civic Election 2018

Ms. Dela Cruz once again run for Councilor {{Cite web|date=2018-09-07|title=Narima Dela Cruz rallies to put safety first in Surrey|url=https://metrovanindependent.com/2018/09/narima-dela-cruz-rallies-to-put-safety-first-in-surrey/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=MetroVan Independent News|language=en-US}} for the City of Surrey, this time under the administration party Surrey First {{Cite web|date=2018-10-12|title=Kaunaunahang konsehal? Narima Dela Cruz poised to be first Filipino Surrey City councillor|url=https://philippinecanadiannews.com/canada/kaunaunahang-konsehal-narima-dela-cruz-poised-to-be-first-filipino-surrey-city-councillor/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Philippine Canadian News.com|language=en-US}} with mayoral candidate Tom Gill.{{Cite web|title=Surrey Election: Here's who's running for city council in 2018|url=https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/surrey-election-heres-whos-running-for-city-council-in-2018|access-date=2022-01-15|website=vancouversun|language=en-CA}} She earned 23, 790 {{Cite web|date=2018-10-24|title=Surrey 2018 Final Determination of Official Election Results|url=https://www.surrey.ca/sites/default/files/media/documents/2018FinalDeterminationOfOfficialElectionResultsSigned.pdf|website=City of Surrey}} votes. Aside from one winner from Surrey First, the other elected council members, including the mayor, are from the Safe Surrey Coalition

Filipino Canadian National Congress - Founding President

After years of advocating for issues concerning Filipino Canadians {{Cite web|last=Alcuitas|first=Ted|date=2020-04-08|title=ICU Nurse who Faced Deportation Mid-Pandemic is Spared by Immigration Officials|url=https://newcanadianmedia.ca/icu-nurse-who-faced-deportation-mid-pandemic-is-spared-by-immigration-officials/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=New Canadian Media|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|date=2012-03-28|title=Newly arrived OFW collapses in Canada airport|url=https://alexpvidal.wordpress.com/2012/03/28/newly-arrived-ofw-collapses-in-canada-airport/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=ALEX P. VIDAL'S BLOG|language=en}}{{Citation|title=Sick Filipino caregiver in Ottawa granted permanent residency {{!}} OMNI News Filipino|url=https://www.facebook.com/OMNIFilipino/videos/1208773306284839/|language=en|access-date=2022-01-15}} and a very significant contribution {{Citation|title=Kababayans lobby to declare June as Filipino Heritage Month in Canada| date=22 January 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmGts73s3y0|language=en|access-date=2022-01-15}} to the campaign for the official declaration {{Cite web|title=Salma Zahid, "Filipino Heritage Month" on Oct. 1st, 2018 {{!}} openparliament.ca|url=https://openparliament.ca/debates/2018/10/1/salma-zahid-1/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=openparliament.ca}} of June as 'Filipino Heritage Month in Canada in 2018,{{Citation|title=Canada government declares June as Filipino Heritage Month, advocates for immigrant caregivers| date=February 2019 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CxHi0yTq318|language=en|access-date=2022-01-15}} Dela Cruz emerges as a Founding Director {{Cite web|date=2021-02-19|title=Filipino Canadian National Congress|url=https://filipinojournal.com/filipino-canadian-national-congress/|access-date=2022-01-15|website=Filipino Journal|language=en-US}} and the first ever President {{Citation|title=Filipino Canadian National Congress thanks Canadian Red Cross for extending aid to the Philippines {{!}} OMNI News Filipino|url=https://www.facebook.com/OMNIFilipino/videos/679049943478010/|language=en|access-date=2022-01-15}} of the Filipino Canadian National Congress (FCNC), a registered national not for profit organization representing the nearly one million Filipino Canadians, and the first and only Filipino organization directly affiliated with the Canada Philippines Parliamentary Friendship Group {{Citation|title=Canadian politicians extend Filipino Heritage Month greetings|url=https://www.facebook.com/OMNIFilipino/videos/263234612056236/|language=en|access-date=2022-01-15}} of Canada's House of Commons.