EDMONTON, AB —  The Philippine Media Association of Alberta (PMAA) is hosting the first PMAA Mayoral Candidates’ Forum on August 14, 11:30 a.m. at the Manila Grill Restaurant West, 10804 170 Street.

PMAA president Nicky Gocuan, in a meeting Wednesday night (July 14) at the newly-opened Manila Grill Restaurant South in Mill Woods, said that invitations have been sent last week with seven candidates confirming their participation.

Gocuan said Brian (Breezy) Gregg, Amarjeet Sohi, Diana Steele, Abdul Malik Chukwudi, Cheryll Watson, Michael Oshry and Kim Krushell are attending the Forum.

“The Filipino community is a growing community and we would like to hear directly from the mayoral candidates themselves on what they can do for our beloved city of Edmonton,” said Gocuan, a long-time newsman in the Philippines before moving to Canada and who currently writes a column for the Alberta Filipino Journal  as well as co-hosts the TalaLuv’z Radio online with Solrac Santillan every Friday nights.

He added that he is still hoping that the other candidates Rick Comrie, Mike Nickel and Augustine Marah will be able to attend the Forum.

“We would love to have all of them attend,” said Gocuan.

According to the Embassy of the Philippines in Ottawa, the city of Edmonton has a Filipino population of 64,275.

The next election is on October 18 and Edmontonians will elect a new mayor after Mayor Don Iveson announced that he is not seeking re-election.

Aside from the mayor, 12 councillors will also be elected to represent the Edmonton wards, one Edmonton Catholic Schools Trustee for each of the seven wards and one Edmonton Public Schools Trustee for the nine wards.