MANILA, Philippines - The Canadian justice department recently elevated a Filipino-Canadian to hold a seat in the Superior Court of Justice in Ontario, a major Canadian province.
Justice Steve Anthony Coroza, who came from the Ontario Court of Justice in the city of Saint Catharines, was appointed to the provincial superior court last month--the first time a Filipino occupied a high position in the country's judiciary.
The Department of Foreign Affairs in a statement on Monday called Coroza's appointment "historic" and the "highest attained by a Filipino-Canadian" in Canada's judiciary so far.
The 42-year-old federal prosecutor started out as a criminal lawyer and became a member of the bar in 1997 and prosecuted at all levels of court in Ontario, according to a report by Toronto-based Filipino newspaper Balita.
Philippine Ambassador to Canada Leslie Gatan praised Coroza's appointment, saying it could be an inspiration to the Filipino community in Canada.
"His elevation to a prominent position in the Canadian judiciary sharpens the visibility of Filipinos in Canada’s multicultural society and should inspire younger generations of Filipino-Canadians to aim for excellence in all their endeavors," Gatan said.
Coroza, who has been a member of the Federation of Asian Canadian Laywers, has also been dedicated in the outreach program Ontario Justice Education Network, instructing young people on the justice system
Involved in the network, Coroza also conducted mock trials with English as Second Language students, whom he could relate with due to his mixed nationality, the report added.