Garry Tanuan was born in Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental Philippines. He was educated by Holy Cross Fathers at an early age and graduated from Silliman University with a “cum laude” degree in Electrical Engineering. He now resides with his family in Highland Creek, Scarborough where he and his family volunteer as lectors and altar servers at St. Joseph parish as well as serving in various lay Catholic Faith ministry groups supporting our Catholic Church and faithful. Garry Tanuan is a 3-term Trustee of the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB). He was first elected in the 2012 Scarborough in a by-election. When the position was vacated when former trustee Jun Enverga was appointed as Senator of Canada. When asked the perception of some that the position was just like handle to him by his predecessor, he mildly disputed it and answered he won the by-election fair and square. When asked Garry about his frustrations in an election, his response is, it seems that everyone does not really come out and vote.
Garry is active with different groups of the community in Scarborough. Begging from his church, he helps a group of Filipino-Canadians lobby the TCDSB to recognized Filipino Heritage in the month of June, which coincides with Philippine Independence Day. He helps a group of Filipino-Canadian parents create an organization within the TCDSB that looks after the welfare and concern of the community regarding their children going to Catholic school.
Garry was tied up for more than a year in helping the Philippine Consul General of Toronto in preparation for the celebration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. With the full support of TCDSB, Garry was able to secure a proclamation celebrating the 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. The first mass was held in 1521 on the island of Limasawa, the southern part of the Philippines.
The celebration was held simultaneously in the Philippines, Toronto, and Mass celebrated by Pope Francis himself in Rome. In Toronto, an art contest among elementary and secondary schools was held with 111 entries submitted. Gary help in awarding and giving special recognition to each entry at the Philippine Consulate Toronto.
In Toronto, Garry was not just able to get the unanimous support of TCDSB, but the support of the Toronto Archdiocese, with the blessing of Cardinal Thomas Collins having mass in St. Michael Cathedral in commemoration of 500 years of Christianity in the Philippines. When Garry was asked if he has ambition in stepping up and run as a councillor, he responded by saying he is contented where he is right now.
