Former councilor Hector Bremner, the favorite of the Filipino community, won in the mayoral elections in Vancouver, Canada.

Bremner has deep ties to the Filipino-Canadian community, as his wife Virginia is a Filipino. The community of almost 30,000 proved to be the key in Bremner’s victory. Bremner has been courting the Filipino community for years, attending almost all events hosted by Filipino-Canadians.

“The Filipino community is solid in supporting him,” said Tatay Tom Avendaño, President and CEO of the Multicultural Helping House Society, a group that has assisted more than 200,000 Filipino immigrants since 1996.

The Filipinos like Bremner as his “integrity is uncompromisable,” said Filipino-Canadian Sharon Pereira. Zumba instructor Abigail Salas described Bremner as a man of God who is very close to the Filipinos.

During the campaign, then Councilor Bremner’s new party, Yes Vancouver, lagged behind traiditional parties The Greens, NPA, the Coalition of Progressive Electors, and Vision Vancouver.

But in the end, Yes Vancouver triumphed, thanks to the wide cultural background of its candidates (two council candidates of Chinese ancestry, two of Punjabi ancestry), Bremner’s past political position as councilor, and the huge support of the LGBT, Filipino-Canadian, South Asian, and Chinese communities, as well as the millennial voters.

Bremner’s #LetsFixHousing campaign earlier this year to legalize housing was directed at the city’s large number of millennials and members of immigrant communities who dream of owning a home. The campaign had thousands of supporters and has changed the dialogue on the housing crisis.

Etonline Managing Director / Real estate agent Tom Choy believes that Bremner will be a great mayor, and photographer William Orsua is certain that Bremner will bring change in Vancouver.

Miguel Seradilla wishes Bremner all the best and former Consul general Joey Ampeso is rooting for him.