Born and raised in Zambia, Rechie Valdez immigrated to Canada with her Filipino parents in 1989 at the age of nine. Thirty-four years later, in July 2023, Valdez would make history when she became the first Filipino-Canadian woman to be named a minister in the government led by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a CBC news report, Valdez’s appointment as Minister of Small Business was described as a “manifestation of her wealth of knowledge and ability to empower entrepreneurs and create communities of action.”
That wasn’t the first time Valdez made history in Canadian politics. In 2021, she became the first Filipino-Canadian woman to be elected as a member of parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville in Ontario.
Before entering politics, Valdez was involved in different sectors. She was a television host and presenter, a corporate banker, and an entrepreneur who co-founded and operated a small baking business that produced a Filipino fusion line of pastries and desserts.
“No matter what I ended up choosing to do in my career path, whether that’s corporate banking, or running my own small business as an entrepreneur, no matter where I ended up, I always gravitated towards participating, organizing, or creating spaces to build community,” Valdez said in a CTV News interview.
In her appointment speech, Valdez committed to continue advocating for the welfare of entrepreneurs, immigrants, women in business, and small business owners. She also highlighted the importance of diversity in driving economic growth and positive social change.
"I am truly honored and privileged to serve as Canada’s Minister of Small Business. I look forward to working with and supporting small businesses across our country," Valdez said in a Facebook post.
As of 2021, there were around 957,355 Canadians with Filipino roots, according to data from Statistics Canada, making the Philippines the third-largest immigrant group in Canada.
