The battle for Vancouver-Kensington in this provincial election is fast becoming the story of the power of ethnic votes in British Columbia.

Vancouver-Kensington is one of the most diverse ridings in the province where more than half of its residents have a non-English mother tongue with most rating Chinese, Tagalog or Punjabi as their first language.

It’s here, that two Filipino-Canadians are heading for a showdown with some in the Filipino-Canadian community upset with the race saying it will divide the community.

Carrying the Liberal flag is Gabby Kalaw, a business development manager at a telecommunications software company.

He is challenging popular NDP incumbent, Mable Elmore a former bus driver who is the first politician of Filipino ancestry to be elected a member of the B.C. legislative assembly.

Also running in Vancouver Kensington is UBC scientist Chris Fjell for the Green Party.

On Vancouver’s Fraser Street, a thoroughfare that runs through the riding bound by Main St on the west, Nanaimo St on the east, East 16 and Kingsway on the north and East 49th on the south, the notion of two Filipino-Canadians going up against each other is getting a mixed reaction.

“They are splitting the community…Mable has been here a long time..why should he (Gabby) run here..why can’t he run somewhere else..that way we can have two Filipino-Canadians in parliament,” said Jacinta Gomes, a home care provider.

“It looks like we are not supporting each other,” she said.

For college student, Michael Agapito, the race between the community stalwarts of a common heritage is a good thing.

“I think most people here don’t see it as a race between two Filipino-Canadian candidates..its about the party they are standing for…anyways it shows the maturing of the community in the political landscape,” he said.

Other prominent Filipino-Canadian commentators have also weighed in publically with former UBC professor Aprodicio Laquian saying the race is about one Filipino targeting another Filipino while Associate UBC professor Leonora Angeles commented that Kalaw’s run will split the community.

Born in the Philippines, Kalaw moved to B.C. at a young age and settled in Richmond. He 

attended Acadia University in Nova Scotia where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in Economics. After university, Gabby worked with the Canadian charity Journalists for Human Rights. 

During a speech to muster support, Kalaw echoed the need for family focused policies to provide the foundation for a strong British Columbia. Kalaw believes a strong economy is necessary to ensure that we can make investments in priorities like health care and education.

“As I talk to businesspeople in the neighbourhood, I come across a common theme,” said Kalaw. “People have noticed their community is much safer and people are feeling more secure in their neighbourhoods.” Kalaw believes BC’s strong economy has brought many new families into the community, and enabled more stores to open up.

“Vancouver-Kensington is a strong example of the positive growth we see in BC, and a place where people from all over can accomplish their dreams, and call home.” Kalaw said, “The people of Vancouver Kensington have worked hard to build their community. I want to use this opportunity to carry on the build on the foundations they have work hard for, and together, create a brighter, better future.”

Mainstream political pundits believe that Kalaw will have a tough time trying to unseat popular incumbent Elmore in this blue collar riding.

First elected in 2009, Elmore has taken on a strong and leading role within the NDP most recently serving as the Deputy Finance Critic and Critic for ICBC.

She is seen as a powerful force in increasing the profile of the arts, culture, history and social issues within the Filipino community.

“While Vancouver-Kensington is one of the most diverse ridings in the province, we are all also very connected to each other. The area is anchored by people working hard to support their families, small business owners who are building the local economy and individuals who are passionate about making a difference. And we share similar hopes for the type of province we want for people now, and for future generations,” she states.

Preferring to focus on the issues rather than ethnic matters, Elmore’s main objective is changing government.

“What I’m hearing from people is: they’re tired of governments putting profits and ideology ahead of the families they were elected to represent.

It’s time we change that. It’s time for the needs of the people to be the first thing we consider in any governmental decisions.”

Other than Kalaw and Elmore, another Filipino, Nathaniel Lim, is running for the Richmond East riding for the B.C. Conservatives marking the first time in BC history that Filipino-Canadians  are running as candidates in all major parties.