Posted by ReyFort Media
Lailani Tumaneng, a longtime nurse and historic Filipino-Canadian elected official, seeks to bring her experience, compassion and collaborative leadership to city council in North Vancouver.
For more than three decades, Tumaneng has called North Vancouver home. It is where she built her career, raised her family, served her community, and eventually made history in public service.
Now, after years of caring for others as a registered nurse and serving as an elected school trustee, Tumaneng is taking another step in her journey of community service: she is running for councillor in the City of North Vancouver.
Her story is one familiar to many Filipino immigrants a story of starting over, working hard, serving others, and eventually finding ways to give back to the community that became home.
Tumaneng completed her bachelor’s degree in nursing at Mary Chiles College in the Philippines, where she also met the man who would become her husband 38 years ago.
After immigrating to Canada, she discovered firsthand that beginning a new life in another country was not easy. Before becoming licensed as a registered nurse in Canada, she worked as a companion with Shylo Nursing Services, caring for seniors in their homes, preparing their meals and helping them with their everyday needs.
It was humble but meaningful work—and an early reflection of the caring profession that would define much of her life.
In 1996, Tumaneng passed her registered nurse licensure examination and went on to work in long-term care. Over the course of 26 years as a registered nurse with Vancouver Coastal Health, she dedicated herself to caring for patients while advocating for their health, dignity and well-being.
Her leadership eventually extended beyond bedside nursing.
As a steward with the British Columbia Nurses’ Union, Tumaneng became involved in occupational health and safety at Evergreen House in North Vancouver. She also served for three years as a Coastal Mountain lobbyist and took on the responsibility of Interim Chair for the Coastal Mountain Region.
These experiences strengthened her belief that leadership begins with listening.
Tumaneng’s commitment to North Vancouver extends well beyond her professional career.
Over the years, she has volunteered in schools, churches, Filipino organizations, community events and community dinner programs in Vancouver and North Vancouver, including activities involving The Door Is Open and Carson Graham Secondary School.
She has also volunteered in community activities involving MLAs Bowinn Ma, Mable Elmore and Susie Chant, experiences that gave her further exposure to civic engagement and public service.
A major milestone came in October 2022, when Tumaneng was elected as a school trustee for the City of North Vancouver.
Her election was particularly meaningful to the Filipino community as she became the first person of Philippine heritage elected to public office in the City of North Vancouver.
But for Tumaneng, making history also brought responsibility.
Serving as a trustee taught her valuable lessons in leadership, collaborative diplomacy, managing boundaries and making decisions collectively even when people around the table did not always agree.
Those lessons are now part of what she hopes to bring to City Council.
Tumaneng says her decision to seek a Councillor position comes from her belief that effective local government must reflect the needs and aspirations of the people it serves.
If elected, she wants to focus on several issues affecting North Vancouver residents, including community safety, climate change and sustainability, affordable housing, and equitable governance.
Affordable housing is particularly important as families, seniors and younger generations face increasing challenges in finding a place they can afford to call home.
At the same time, Tumaneng believes decisions made at City Hall should reflect the diversity of North Vancouver and should be approached with transparency and accountability.
Her philosophy remains closely connected to the profession in which she spent much of her life: caring for people.
Whether beside a patient, representing nurses, sitting at the school board table or volunteering in the community, Tumaneng says service has always been about listening first and working with others toward solutions.
“I am proud to stand for transparency, accountability and service. Because WE ARE North Vancouver.”
From an immigrant working as a companion caring for seniors, to a registered nurse with decades of service, to becoming a historic Filipino-Canadian elected school trustee, Tumaneng’s journey reflects perseverance, compassion and a commitment to community.
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Caption:
Lailani Tumaneng is the first Filipino to be elected in the City of North Vancouver.
ReyFort Media 
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