OVVIAN HILL: Bringing a Fresh Perspective to Fort St. John

By Rey Fortaleza OLY

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Filipino-Canadian community advocate, artist, writer and filmmaker Ovvian Hill is taking her years of community involvement to a new level as she seeks a seat on Fort St. John City Council in the October 17, 2026 municipal election.

A longtime Fort St. John resident, Hill has built strong connections within the community through volunteerism, settlement and integration work, arts and culture, and initiatives that bring people from different backgrounds together. The City of Fort St. John says she has volunteered in the community since 2009 and has worked in the settlement and integration sector for seven years. 

Originally from the Philippines, Hill is an artist and sculptor who found a new home in northern British Columbia. Her own experience as an immigrant later inspired her to help newcomers establish their lives in Fort St. John through settlement and integration services. 

Her community involvement extends well beyond her professional work. Hill serves as a director with the North Peace Filipino Canadian Association and is involved with arts organizations at the local, regional and provincial levels, including the Fort St. John Community Arts Council, Arts North East and ArtsBC. 

Creativity has also been central to Hill’s contribution to the city. Her public art has been featured in Fort St. John, including her interactive installation “Drum of Concordia,” which was designed to symbolize harmony among the different cultures that make up the community. 

As a candidate, Hill is campaigning under the message “Fresh Perspectives.” Her stated priorities include strengthening community connections, supporting economic growth, ensuring more voices are represented in civic decision-making, and developing Fort St. John as a stronger northern B.C. hub. She has also emphasized arts, culture, creative industries and tourism as potential areas of community and economic development. 

Hill has said she wants to represent sectors of the community that she believes are not currently being heard at council and to encourage greater participation in local government. 

Her candidacy adds another Filipino-Canadian voice to the 2026 municipal election and reflects the growing civic participation of Filipino Canadians in communities across British Columbia.

Election Day: October 17, 2026