Nena Nera has been well- known for years in her community and
in her workplace as an outstanding Filipino-Canadian who not
only enhances and promotes Filipino culture within Canadian
society but also integrates her own culture with other cultures
as her work and accomplishments will show.
Nena recently retired, June 27,2007 at the age of 74. She is the
'first' ever to retire at this age, during this time in the Federal
Public Service. She retired later not only because she loved her
work but because the top echelons of her department asked her
to continue . Three years before she retired, she served as
Special Advisor in Diversity for Health Canada, the highest
position for a Filipino to fill in her department during her time.
This was the 'first' position created in Health Canada. As a
in her workplace as an outstanding Filipino-Canadian who not
only enhances and promotes Filipino culture within Canadian
society but also integrates her own culture with other cultures
as her work and accomplishments will show.
Nena recently retired, June 27,2007 at the age of 74. She is the
'first' ever to retire at this age, during this time in the Federal
Public Service. She retired later not only because she loved her
work but because the top echelons of her department asked her
to continue . Three years before she retired, she served as
Special Advisor in Diversity for Health Canada, the highest
position for a Filipino to fill in her department during her time.
This was the 'first' position created in Health Canada. As a
Special Advisor, she established a core group of Agents of Change (300 of them) for the
department and was the Lead Agent of Change. This was the legacy she left behind her. She
Chaired and Co-Chaired various committees in her department. As Agents of Change, her group
advocated for equity and recognition in the workplace for Filipinos and other minorities,
participating and analyzing Public Service Surveys for the development of policies to reduce
discrimination and harassment in the workplace. She conducted "dialogues" on hot issues such
as racial discrimination, on values, ethics and beliefs to promote respect in the workplace
nationally. She championed the needs of diverse groups working closely with the senior
bureaucrats thus influencing departmental plans, practices and programs. She travelled and
spoke in the different Regions throughout Canada to do this. Before she retired, Nena received
two Deputy Minister's Awards for Excellence : Excellence in
Diversity Management and Excellence in Values and Ethics.
At the same time, while advocating in the workplace, she worked in the community to promote
communication and leadership through her involvement with Toastmasters International. She
coached and mentored younger members including Filipinos and others. In her speeches and
presentations to different national organizations, she promoted Filipino culture and in one
diversity speech she talked about her own experience as a Filipino immigrant and showed how
she adjusted and adapted in Canada. This became a winning speech in the International Speech
Contest.
As a Toastmaster, Nena has shown herself again as a Leader as a member of the District
Executive. In November 2007, she was recognized and received the award for Division Governor
of the Year, the 'first' Filipino to achieve this'. As a Governor, she helped her Division reach the
highest achievement of the year becoming a Presidents Distinguished Division. Nena attained the
highest educational achievement in International Toastmasters as a communicator and a leader
(having delivered 40-50 speeches, presentations, workshops and seminars with a high
performance leadership project) thus becoming a Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM). In most, if
not all of these presentations she delivered, she showed herself as an Ambassador of her
Mother Country, the Philippines.
SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS
Nena and her husband left the Philippines in 1956 for a "honeymoon" in the United States while
at the same time pursuing their graduate studies - her husband in medicine, and Nena in Social
Work. Nena received her Master of Science Degree in Social Work Administration (MSc. S.W.A.)
from the University of Wisconsin and also received a fellowship at Marquette University Medical
School specializing in Medical Social worker. Before she and her husband and children left for
Canada in 1964, Nena worked as a Medical Social ** Worker at the Milwaukee County Hospital
in Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Nena and her husband settled in Ottawa, Canada in 1964 working as a medical social worker at
one of the largest hospital in Canada Ottawa Civic Hospital) and worked herself up to becoming
the 'first' Filipino Director of Social Work with a staff of 30. Here she developed social work
programs in the different disciplines of Medicine - Cardiology, General Medicine, Emergency for
Crisis Intervention, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Renal Dialysis as well as in the Out-Patient Clinics. She
introduced Social Work in Health in these various areas. As a Director she also promoted Filipino
awareness by training and hiring newly arrived Filipinos. The 'first' Hyperactive Children's Day
Camp Program in Ottawa was organized by Nena and her youth volunteers which included her
children.
While Director of Social Work, she established the 'first' Canadian Society for Hospital Social
Work Directors (1975) modelled after the American Society of Hospital Social Work Directors. She
gathered all the Social Work Administrators and Directors throughout Canada and formed an
organization thereby initiating a yearly Educational Conference for this group. In 1980 Nena
received the President's Award for Excellence from the Canadian Society for Hospital Social Work
Directors.
The Filipino-Canadian Association in the Ottawa Valley was formed by Nena and her husband
with the other newcomers in Ottawa (1966 - the Association is still active and well.) Nena wrote
the Constitution and By-Laws and was the' first' Editor of the Association's newsletter. She
succeeded her husband as President of the Association in 1969. She was also one of the
founders and 'first' members of the National Council of Filipino Associations in Canada.
While at the same time serving in various Community Organizations and serving on the Board
and Committees of Organizations among which were the Social Planning Council, the Canadian
Association of Professional Social Workers, Ontario Professional Association of Social Workers,
Ontario Hospital Association, etc... Nena also served as Advisor of newly arrived Filipino
immigrants (Philippine Multicultural Society) and helped them integrate with the Filipino-Canadian
Community and other ethnic groups.
While President of the Filipino Canadian Association in Ottawa Valley (FCAOV), she continued her
husband's work in making the Filipino community visible by organizing special events to promote
Philippine culture. She out-reached to Municipal and Provincial Governments by connecting with
them and inviting them to participate in these events. She created awareness and interest for
Filipinos among these government officials. Special fund-raising events included sponsoring a
room in the name of the Filipino Canadian Association at the Eastern Ontario Children's
Hospital during the first year it was opened. Nena received the Philippine President's Mabuhay
Award in 1980.
Nena served on the Board of the Philippine Centre for three years and headed the Social Action
Committee. As one of the Board members, she was one of the strongest advocates in the
creation of the Philippine Centre and continues to help in its fund-raising.
Among her community work was also her participation and involvement in her Church. She was
a member of the 'first' Parish Council of her church and headed it Social Action Committee. She
led an active Actiion Committee and was the first woman allowed to speak in the pulpit by her
Parish priest.
Nena was one of the 'first' seven member Team created by Health Canada to combat HIV/AIDS in
Canada (1981.) She was the only Social Worker in a Team of two Physicians and four
Epidemiologists. She promoted the psycho-social impact of the disease among family and friends
and to the community in general. She travelled extensively in Canada, in the U.S. and Europe to
do this. She developed modules of care to educate other disciplines and the different
communities. She was with the World Health Organization in Geneva to train Asian Physicians
and Nurses including some Filipinos. She presented at numerous international conferences and
in these
conferences she sought out delegates from the Philippines for networking and to have
information exchanges with them . She attended the International Conference in Manila and
presented a paper on Models of Care and followed up her networking with her Filipino
colleagues.
As the Social Work Advisor for the Canadian HIV/AIDS Team, she worked and funded projects
and various initiatives of different professional organizations such as the Canadian Medical
Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, The Canadian Social Work Profession, the
Canadian Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychiatric Association. At the same time,
she worked and funded various community groups such as the Asian Canadian AIDS
Organization (ACAS) as well as with several Municipal and Provincial Departments by establishing
National Working Groups. Nena received several recognitions and awards from these national
organizations such as the Award for Excellence from the Canadian Nurses Association (the only
award given to an individual who is not a professional nurse) ; Award and recognition from
the Canadian Psychiatric Association.
Nena's other area of interest and work and she did volunteer work was in the area of diversity.
She worked with various ethnic groups alongside her work with her Filipino community and
ensured that there is communication and cross-pollination of cultures among these groups.
Again, she has done numerous presentations and workshops in the area of diversity, equity in
order to promote the Filipino culture. Through her determined efforts and influence, many
positive changes have occurred in many groups including improved leadership and
communication and increased sensitivity to the needs of diverse groups.She received* *the
Certificate of Appreciation for her contributions to the work of the National Council of Visible
Minorities in 2002.
In addition to her various presentations and invited workshops and seminars, Nena has
published numerous publications in HIV/AIDS, and articles in diversity.
department and was the Lead Agent of Change. This was the legacy she left behind her. She
Chaired and Co-Chaired various committees in her department. As Agents of Change, her group
advocated for equity and recognition in the workplace for Filipinos and other minorities,
participating and analyzing Public Service Surveys for the development of policies to reduce
discrimination and harassment in the workplace. She conducted "dialogues" on hot issues such
as racial discrimination, on values, ethics and beliefs to promote respect in the workplace
nationally. She championed the needs of diverse groups working closely with the senior
bureaucrats thus influencing departmental plans, practices and programs. She travelled and
spoke in the different Regions throughout Canada to do this. Before she retired, Nena received
two Deputy Minister's Awards for Excellence : Excellence in
Diversity Management and Excellence in Values and Ethics.
At the same time, while advocating in the workplace, she worked in the community to promote
communication and leadership through her involvement with Toastmasters International. She
coached and mentored younger members including Filipinos and others. In her speeches and
presentations to different national organizations, she promoted Filipino culture and in one
diversity speech she talked about her own experience as a Filipino immigrant and showed how
she adjusted and adapted in Canada. This became a winning speech in the International Speech
Contest.
As a Toastmaster, Nena has shown herself again as a Leader as a member of the District
Executive. In November 2007, she was recognized and received the award for Division Governor
of the Year, the 'first' Filipino to achieve this'. As a Governor, she helped her Division reach the
highest achievement of the year becoming a Presidents Distinguished Division. Nena attained the
highest educational achievement in International Toastmasters as a communicator and a leader
(having delivered 40-50 speeches, presentations, workshops and seminars with a high
performance leadership project) thus becoming a Distinguished Toastmasters (DTM). In most, if
not all of these presentations she delivered, she showed herself as an Ambassador of her
Mother Country, the Philippines.
SUMMARY HIGHLIGHTS
Nena and her husband left the Philippines in 1956 for a "honeymoon" in the United States while
at the same time pursuing their graduate studies - her husband in medicine, and Nena in Social
Work. Nena received her Master of Science Degree in Social Work Administration (MSc. S.W.A.)
from the University of Wisconsin and also received a fellowship at Marquette University Medical
School specializing in Medical Social worker. Before she and her husband and children left for
Canada in 1964, Nena worked as a Medical Social ** Worker at the Milwaukee County Hospital
in Pediatrics and Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Nena and her husband settled in Ottawa, Canada in 1964 working as a medical social worker at
one of the largest hospital in Canada Ottawa Civic Hospital) and worked herself up to becoming
the 'first' Filipino Director of Social Work with a staff of 30. Here she developed social work
programs in the different disciplines of Medicine - Cardiology, General Medicine, Emergency for
Crisis Intervention, Pediatrics, Obstetrics, Renal Dialysis as well as in the Out-Patient Clinics. She
introduced Social Work in Health in these various areas. As a Director she also promoted Filipino
awareness by training and hiring newly arrived Filipinos. The 'first' Hyperactive Children's Day
Camp Program in Ottawa was organized by Nena and her youth volunteers which included her
children.
While Director of Social Work, she established the 'first' Canadian Society for Hospital Social
Work Directors (1975) modelled after the American Society of Hospital Social Work Directors. She
gathered all the Social Work Administrators and Directors throughout Canada and formed an
organization thereby initiating a yearly Educational Conference for this group. In 1980 Nena
received the President's Award for Excellence from the Canadian Society for Hospital Social Work
Directors.
The Filipino-Canadian Association in the Ottawa Valley was formed by Nena and her husband
with the other newcomers in Ottawa (1966 - the Association is still active and well.) Nena wrote
the Constitution and By-Laws and was the' first' Editor of the Association's newsletter. She
succeeded her husband as President of the Association in 1969. She was also one of the
founders and 'first' members of the National Council of Filipino Associations in Canada.
While at the same time serving in various Community Organizations and serving on the Board
and Committees of Organizations among which were the Social Planning Council, the Canadian
Association of Professional Social Workers, Ontario Professional Association of Social Workers,
Ontario Hospital Association, etc... Nena also served as Advisor of newly arrived Filipino
immigrants (Philippine Multicultural Society) and helped them integrate with the Filipino-Canadian
Community and other ethnic groups.
While President of the Filipino Canadian Association in Ottawa Valley (FCAOV), she continued her
husband's work in making the Filipino community visible by organizing special events to promote
Philippine culture. She out-reached to Municipal and Provincial Governments by connecting with
them and inviting them to participate in these events. She created awareness and interest for
Filipinos among these government officials. Special fund-raising events included sponsoring a
room in the name of the Filipino Canadian Association at the Eastern Ontario Children's
Hospital during the first year it was opened. Nena received the Philippine President's Mabuhay
Award in 1980.
Nena served on the Board of the Philippine Centre for three years and headed the Social Action
Committee. As one of the Board members, she was one of the strongest advocates in the
creation of the Philippine Centre and continues to help in its fund-raising.
Among her community work was also her participation and involvement in her Church. She was
a member of the 'first' Parish Council of her church and headed it Social Action Committee. She
led an active Actiion Committee and was the first woman allowed to speak in the pulpit by her
Parish priest.
Nena was one of the 'first' seven member Team created by Health Canada to combat HIV/AIDS in
Canada (1981.) She was the only Social Worker in a Team of two Physicians and four
Epidemiologists. She promoted the psycho-social impact of the disease among family and friends
and to the community in general. She travelled extensively in Canada, in the U.S. and Europe to
do this. She developed modules of care to educate other disciplines and the different
communities. She was with the World Health Organization in Geneva to train Asian Physicians
and Nurses including some Filipinos. She presented at numerous international conferences and
in these
conferences she sought out delegates from the Philippines for networking and to have
information exchanges with them . She attended the International Conference in Manila and
presented a paper on Models of Care and followed up her networking with her Filipino
colleagues.
As the Social Work Advisor for the Canadian HIV/AIDS Team, she worked and funded projects
and various initiatives of different professional organizations such as the Canadian Medical
Association, the Canadian Nurses Association, The Canadian Social Work Profession, the
Canadian Psychological Association and the Canadian Psychiatric Association. At the same time,
she worked and funded various community groups such as the Asian Canadian AIDS
Organization (ACAS) as well as with several Municipal and Provincial Departments by establishing
National Working Groups. Nena received several recognitions and awards from these national
organizations such as the Award for Excellence from the Canadian Nurses Association (the only
award given to an individual who is not a professional nurse) ; Award and recognition from
the Canadian Psychiatric Association.
Nena's other area of interest and work and she did volunteer work was in the area of diversity.
She worked with various ethnic groups alongside her work with her Filipino community and
ensured that there is communication and cross-pollination of cultures among these groups.
Again, she has done numerous presentations and workshops in the area of diversity, equity in
order to promote the Filipino culture. Through her determined efforts and influence, many
positive changes have occurred in many groups including improved leadership and
communication and increased sensitivity to the needs of diverse groups.She received* *the
Certificate of Appreciation for her contributions to the work of the National Council of Visible
Minorities in 2002.
In addition to her various presentations and invited workshops and seminars, Nena has
published numerous publications in HIV/AIDS, and articles in diversity.
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