May 16, 2025 - This year, the Canadian government recognized Canadian Filipino Net’s (CFNet) Dr. Rey Pagtakhan as one of its notable Canadians of Asian origin who have made significant contributions to Canadian society as the country celebrates May as Asian Heritage Month.
This year’s theme, Unity in Diversity: The Impact of Asian Communities in Shaping Canadian Identity, recognizes the “abundance of diversity present among Asian Canadian communities, and how this richness has contributed to building a unifying Canadian identity.”
Hon. Rey D. Pagtakhan, P.C., O.M., LL.D., Sc.D., M.D.
In receiving the citation, Pagtakhan feels “profoundly honoured, humbled and grateful as a Canadian Filipino…it pleases me greatly, as an adopted son, that our community shares in the rich Asian heritage of Canada.”
“In a way, I hope I am reflecting to the greater Canadian community that Canadian Filipinos give of themselves to fellow citizens,” Pagtakhan added. “In that sense, we share with others our jewel box of laudable Filipino cultural values and work ethic.”
Aside from writing for CFNet and Pilipino Express, particularly his series Medisina at Politika, Pagtakhan also sits on the board of the Maple Bamboo Network Society that manages and operates the online publication. He also sits on the Board of Directors of St. Paul’s College Foundation at the University of Manitoba, the Advisory Council of Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, and the Panel of Prairie Adjudicators of the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council.
Writing, he says, “has enabled me to share my insights on issues close to my professional and civic interests - medicine and politics, and their public policy implications - and thereby help distil for our community the importance of civic engagement, not to mention the inherent informational content and hopefully help inspire and motivate others - the younger generation - to follow suit.” Pagtakhan notes that CFNet “has been such a pillar of community engagement worthy of our continuing support.”
Pagtakhan joins 11 other noteworthy Canadians of Asian heritage this year from the fields of arts, sports, social activism and business. According to the website, their stories “reflect historical and cultural milestones that help define the rich and significant history of communities of Asian heritage in Canada.”
The criteria for inclusion on the list of noteworthy Canadians of Asian heritage include individuals who have attained a high level of achievement, advanced social or humanitarian causes, achieved recognition as an expert or leader, emerged as a pioneer in a new or non-traditional sector or contributed significantly to events in Canada’s history.
Pagtakhan came to historical importance as the first Canadian Filipino to have served in Parliament and Cabinet, holding several Cabinet positions under Prime Ministers Jean Chretien and Paul Martin. Before entering politics, he already had a distinguished medical career as a physician and professor, specializing in pediatric chest diseases.
Through the years, Pagtakhan has received several honours: Order of Manitoba, honorary
Doctor of Laws and Doctor of Science, the Queen Elizabeth II Silver, Golden and Diamond
Jubilee Medals, the King Charles III Coronation Medal, the Philippine Presidential Citation for Outstanding Filipino Individuals Overseas, the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Community Champion Special Award, Winnipeg’s Harvest’s Poet Laureate, and the University of the Philippines Medical Alumni Society in America Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2022, a Winnipeg park was named Dr. Rey D. Pagtakhan Park in recognition of his many contributions to the community and his adopted country Canada.
About the Author
Rachel Ramos-Reid started writing for magazines and newspapers when she was still a junior at the University of the Philippines’ Communication degree program majoring in Journalism. She continued to write in a public relations/corporate communications capacity in various private and government offices until moving out of the country in 1997 to work as Programme Officer for the arts and culture branch of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO-SPAFA) in Bangkok, Thailand. At the end of her term, Rachel found herself immigrating to Canada in the year 2000 and again searching for new beginnings.
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