Portraits of the Community - Mable Elmore

IN CELEBRATION OF FILIPINO HERITAGE MONTH

Mable Elmore: The Community Activist

MABLE ELMORE ATTENDS A PRIDE PARADE IN VANCOUVER. THE VANCOUVER-KENSINGTON MLA IS AN OPENLY QUEER WOMAN OF COLOUR. PHOTO COURTESY OF MABLE ELMORE. FROM THE TYEE (HTTPS://THETYEE.CA/NEWS/2020/12/09/MABLE-ELMORE-MORE-SENIORS-CARE/)

Mable Elmore is a Filipino Canadian Politician and activist. She is notable for being the first Filipino Canadian elected to be a Member of the Legislative Assembly in British Columbia. She is also the second openly lesbian woman to be elected to such a position.

Elmore was born to her parents in Langley, BC, before moving across the country to Nova Scotia, she spent some time in Turkey, however, most of her upbringing was in Manitoba, where she began to pursue an interest in politics. She returned to BC to study at the University of British Columbia, becoming a driver for the Coast Mountain Bus Company. It was here that her activism for workers flourished, as she became an active member of her local drivers’ union.

Elmore was able to win the NDP nomination to run in the riding of Vancouver-Kensington, beating out Jinny Sims. She won in 2009, due in no small part to the support of the local Filipino community in her riding .Elmore has served in many different roles during her political career. Since her earlier years working with drivers’ unions, she has been a long-time peace advocate, helping to organize a variety of marches and protests.

Over her 4 terms elected to office. Elmore has served a variety of specialist roles. Some notable ones have been her work in criticism of the abuse of the temporary foreign worker program. She has also served on committees addressing poverty reduction programs in BC, as well as similar initiatives related to anti-racism in the province.  Elmore has worked to address systemic racism though legislation and other governmental means. Despite these efforts, she has also encouraged and helped ordinary people contribute to anti-racism initiatives in the province.