| Arturo Viola Niagara on-the-lake Ontario, Canada First Asian Elected As Lord Mayor • Canada’s Super Highlighter of Positive Filipino Image |
Making big waves and getting heaves of praises from the
Canadian mainstream community is a Filipino elected and getting
accolades as the first Asian to be Lord Mayor of picturesque
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, a not far distant from Metropolis
Toronto. His name is Arturo Tapiador Viola, one of the five children
of Antonio Hazar Viola of San Miguel, Bulacan and Damiana
Garcia Tapiador of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. A high school graduate of
Arellano High School and a graduate in 1964 from Far Easter
University and Centro Escolar College, Art migrated to the United
States and in 1967 settled in Niagara on-the-Lake.
In an article written by Dr, Dave Kelly entitled: “ART VIOLA:
Statesman and Volunteer,” Art was the recipient of a moving story
of a non-Canadian making a terrific impact in a typical Canadian
community. Let me quote verbatim the article of Dr. Dave Kelly:
“The life of the present Lord Mayor and Regional Councillor of
Niagara-on-the-Lake has been an extraordinary one.
Arturo Tapiador Viola, fondly called by his friends simply as Art
was born in the small town of Santiago, Isabela, in the
Philippines. Like many of his countrymen, Art grew up in a life of
Canadian mainstream community is a Filipino elected and getting
accolades as the first Asian to be Lord Mayor of picturesque
Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, a not far distant from Metropolis
Toronto. His name is Arturo Tapiador Viola, one of the five children
of Antonio Hazar Viola of San Miguel, Bulacan and Damiana
Garcia Tapiador of Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija. A high school graduate of
Arellano High School and a graduate in 1964 from Far Easter
University and Centro Escolar College, Art migrated to the United
States and in 1967 settled in Niagara on-the-Lake.
In an article written by Dr, Dave Kelly entitled: “ART VIOLA:
Statesman and Volunteer,” Art was the recipient of a moving story
of a non-Canadian making a terrific impact in a typical Canadian
community. Let me quote verbatim the article of Dr. Dave Kelly:
“The life of the present Lord Mayor and Regional Councillor of
Niagara-on-the-Lake has been an extraordinary one.
Arturo Tapiador Viola, fondly called by his friends simply as Art
was born in the small town of Santiago, Isabela, in the
Philippines. Like many of his countrymen, Art grew up in a life of
hardship and difficulty which required much dedication to survive.
Apparently, Art survived, even thrived, for he pursued and attained an outstanding career in the profession of
medical technology. Art won awards for his fine and excellent work, including the prestigious Order of
Microscope. He attended Far Eastern University and Centro Escolar University in the Philippines. In addition,
he completed advanced studies in his profession in the United States. While in the States, he took advanced
studies in his profession and passed the American Society of Clinical Pathologists registry examination for
medical technologists.
Upon his arrival in Canada in the nation’s centennial year, 1967, he served in St. Catherines General
Hospital, Vigil Medical Centre, and became Laboratory Manager in Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital where he
remained until his retirement in 1994, His wife, Julie, a Registered Nurse, whom he married twenty-eight
years ago, continues to serve as a nurse in the local hospital. She is known for her efforts towards
canvassing for Canadian Cancer Society and assisting Art in many of his door-to-door campaigns for Heart &
Stroke and Diabetes to mention but a few.
While his services in the medical-technology has been exemplary, his work as a volunteer has become
legendary in Niagara-on-the-Lake - - chairman for the Diabetes Awareness Program since 1985; chairman for
the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario since 1987; and vice-chairman for the Virgil Arena Renovation Fund,
among countless others. Backed by his wife, Julie, their son Neil and daughter Belinda, Art’s contributions to
charities and social causes has been unceasing. A grateful and appreciative community has given him
numerous awards and honours, including the Government of Canada Certificate of Merit in 1988. Numerous
newspaper headlines readily capture the appreciation of Art’s Herculean efforts - among these: ‘HE’S
VOLUNTEER FOR ALL SEASONS!” “ART VIOLA: A THOUSAND AND ONE THINGS GOING ON,” “ARTURO
VIOLA SHOWS HOW TO HAVE A HEART!”
Even so, Art’s good work is perhaps best reflected in the summation of a former NIAGARA ADVANCE editor:
“Any good thing Art Viola can do, he does!”
Needless to say, the citizens of Niagara-on-the-Lake are extremely proud to have Art as their leading citizen.
The Niagara Lions Club, in recognition of his efforts on their behalf, has awarded him numerous honours
including International Lions Clubs’ highest award: the Melvin Jones Fellow in 1994. In recognition of his
good deeds, the community chose him as their “1988 Citizen of the Year” - - an outstanding honour well
deserved!
So impressed were the good citizens of the historical town - - the First Capital of Upper Canada - - that they
elected him their deputy Lord Mayor in 1994. Art was elected with the highest number of votes on record, a
phenomenon made even more extraordinary by the fact that he was the first Filipino - - indeed, the first Asian
- - to garner such honor . In 1997 Art won an easy victory over two strong opponents to become the Lord Mayor
of Niagara-on-the-Lake - - an unprecedented honour for someone from outside Canada.
Today Art continues to serve both as Lord Mayor and as a timeless volunteer for his beloved charities. Only
recently he took part in a fund-raising walk for Osteoporosis despite being hindered by a bad foot.
In addition to his many duties and commitments, Art finds time to work for the Church of St. Vincent de Paul -
- he is a member of several of its organizations - and continues to promote support for the Filipino community
through several organizations such as the Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara (FCAN). He is highly
regarded as an ambassador of goodwill by both nations.
As Lord Mayor, Art is celebrated for his policies of openness, dialogue, fair play, and above all - -
INTEGRITY.” #
Apparently, Art survived, even thrived, for he pursued and attained an outstanding career in the profession of
medical technology. Art won awards for his fine and excellent work, including the prestigious Order of
Microscope. He attended Far Eastern University and Centro Escolar University in the Philippines. In addition,
he completed advanced studies in his profession in the United States. While in the States, he took advanced
studies in his profession and passed the American Society of Clinical Pathologists registry examination for
medical technologists.
Upon his arrival in Canada in the nation’s centennial year, 1967, he served in St. Catherines General
Hospital, Vigil Medical Centre, and became Laboratory Manager in Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital where he
remained until his retirement in 1994, His wife, Julie, a Registered Nurse, whom he married twenty-eight
years ago, continues to serve as a nurse in the local hospital. She is known for her efforts towards
canvassing for Canadian Cancer Society and assisting Art in many of his door-to-door campaigns for Heart &
Stroke and Diabetes to mention but a few.
While his services in the medical-technology has been exemplary, his work as a volunteer has become
legendary in Niagara-on-the-Lake - - chairman for the Diabetes Awareness Program since 1985; chairman for
the Heart & Stroke Foundation of Ontario since 1987; and vice-chairman for the Virgil Arena Renovation Fund,
among countless others. Backed by his wife, Julie, their son Neil and daughter Belinda, Art’s contributions to
charities and social causes has been unceasing. A grateful and appreciative community has given him
numerous awards and honours, including the Government of Canada Certificate of Merit in 1988. Numerous
newspaper headlines readily capture the appreciation of Art’s Herculean efforts - among these: ‘HE’S
VOLUNTEER FOR ALL SEASONS!” “ART VIOLA: A THOUSAND AND ONE THINGS GOING ON,” “ARTURO
VIOLA SHOWS HOW TO HAVE A HEART!”
Even so, Art’s good work is perhaps best reflected in the summation of a former NIAGARA ADVANCE editor:
“Any good thing Art Viola can do, he does!”
Needless to say, the citizens of Niagara-on-the-Lake are extremely proud to have Art as their leading citizen.
The Niagara Lions Club, in recognition of his efforts on their behalf, has awarded him numerous honours
including International Lions Clubs’ highest award: the Melvin Jones Fellow in 1994. In recognition of his
good deeds, the community chose him as their “1988 Citizen of the Year” - - an outstanding honour well
deserved!
So impressed were the good citizens of the historical town - - the First Capital of Upper Canada - - that they
elected him their deputy Lord Mayor in 1994. Art was elected with the highest number of votes on record, a
phenomenon made even more extraordinary by the fact that he was the first Filipino - - indeed, the first Asian
- - to garner such honor . In 1997 Art won an easy victory over two strong opponents to become the Lord Mayor
of Niagara-on-the-Lake - - an unprecedented honour for someone from outside Canada.
Today Art continues to serve both as Lord Mayor and as a timeless volunteer for his beloved charities. Only
recently he took part in a fund-raising walk for Osteoporosis despite being hindered by a bad foot.
In addition to his many duties and commitments, Art finds time to work for the Church of St. Vincent de Paul -
- he is a member of several of its organizations - and continues to promote support for the Filipino community
through several organizations such as the Filipino-Canadian Association of Niagara (FCAN). He is highly
regarded as an ambassador of goodwill by both nations.
As Lord Mayor, Art is celebrated for his policies of openness, dialogue, fair play, and above all - -
INTEGRITY.” #
Washington D.C. Since 1987
Washington D.C. Since 1987
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