On April 14, IRCC Minister Marco Mendicino announced a new pathway to permanent residence for over 90,000 essential workers and international graduates in recognition of their contribution to Canada’s fight to control the spread of covid-19 and efforts to accelerate Canada’s economic recovery.

Filipinos and other members of the Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) communities have borne the brunt of COVID-19 infections in Manitoba.

Filipinos in Canada join other Filipinos all over the world in celebrating the 500^th year of Christianity in the Philippines which started with the launch of the 500YOC Prayer on December 14, 2019. To commemorate this event, the Filipino Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Vancouver has taken the lead in Canada.

As Canadian Filipino Net wrapped up this current edition, Jillian Mendoza remained under watchful eyes in a Toronto hospital.

At noon on January 20, 2021, Joe Biden took his Oath of Office before Chief Justice John Roberts of the U.S. Supreme Court and became the 46^th President of America, ushering the dawn of a new era committed to advance humanity and justice, inclusiveness in leadership, democratic tenets, and the rule of law and elevate public trustworthiness and empathy.

Filipinos in Canada have until September 30, 2021 to register for the Philippine general election to be held May 9, 2022. The 2022 elections will determine the election of president, vice president, senators and party-list representatives.

The B.C. provincial government has announced the appointment of lawyer Luningning Alcuitas-Imperial as chair of the Mental Health Review Board.

On January 11 Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer, announced a continuing surge of new Covid cases in B.C. making it necessary to extend the province’s tougher Covid restrictions regarding travel and social gatherings for another four weeks up to  Feb. 5^th. Henry said an additional 1,475 people tested positive in B.C. over the past three days. If Covid cases continue to rise, it may be extended again.

January 16, 2021 - The Filipino Catholic Ministry of the Archdiocese of Vancouver (filipinoministry.ca) invites Canadian Filipinos to join the celebration of the centuries-old image of the holy Child Jesus with a novena and Mass on the Sto. Niño’s feast day, January 17. It will be held at the St. Anthony de Padua Church in Agassiz, 7237 Morrow Road. The mass will be virtual (livestream) as churches are still not allowed to gather for worship per Provincial Health Authority Covid restrictions.

British Columbia has declared a state of emergency and extended tougher restrictions to January 8, 2021 at midnight province-wide.  By order and direction of the Provincial Health Officer (PHO), all events and social gatherings are suspended to significantly reduce COVID-19 transmission related to social interactions and travel.

When a city-life Toronto magazine asked top chefs to rate the best takeout and delivery restaurants in 2020, one Canadian Filipino establishment measured up.

On November 19, Dr. Bonnie Henry, BC’s provincial public health officer issued new Covid rules effective immediately to slow down the sudden spike in new Covid cases which rose to over 700 new cases per day in the past week.  The new restrictions are in effect until December 7th if the situation improves by then.

The pandemic isn’t stopping Philippine Consulate General in Vancouver in bringing Maligayang Pasko, Vancouver 2020! featuring three of last year’s popular segments – the carols, the parols, and the market beginning December 4.

ABS-CBN News Channel’s (ANC) Christian Esguerra is this year’s recipient of the 2020 McLuhan Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism. The announcement was made during the virtual Jaime V. Ongpin Journalism Seminar organized by the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) in October.

The Toronto Foundation released on November 12 a wide-ranging report about the impacts of the pandemic on people of colour and immigrant communities.

Mable Elmore cruised to victory on election night for a new term as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) of B.C.