Benjamin Bongolan

I am a Master in Environmental Studies student with a specialization in Urban and Regional Planning. My research will examine the relationship between the Philippine Government with the Filipino community in Toronto. More specifically, this research will focus on social service providers that are funded by Immigrants, Refugees and Citizenship Canada that collaborate with representatives and government officials from the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto departments of Labor Relations and Foreign Affairs.

I hold an honours bachelor of arts degree in history and political science from the University of Toronto and I am currently the Coordinator of Newcomer Family Settlement Services at The 519, an LGBTQ2S organization. Most recently, I was honoured to receive the Alumni Emerging Leader Award from the University of Toronto-Victoria University, and was a 2018 DiverseCity Fellow with the CivicAction Leadership Foundation.

Key themes of my research will include urban inequities, urban activism, Filipino Diasporas, and planning (urban and social policy planning).