Filipino Community in Canada > Ontario > Toronto

Josef-Jake Camacho Aguilar or simply “Jake” to clients and friends, is a general practice Filipino-Canadian lawyer and is the founder and CEO of JCA Law Office Professional Corporation. He started his professional career in the Philippines as a stock trader right after becoming a Certified Public Accountant (CPA). Having the urge to learn more about how the legal system works, he decided to take up law and passed the 2005 Bar exams. He was admitted to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines in 2006. He was a civil servant for 12 years and practiced corporate law for several years before migrating to Toronto, Ontario in 2012 with his family. He was then accepted in the Internationally Trained Lawyers Program (ITLP) of the University of Toronto, Faculty of Law, and became a Barrister, Solicitor & Notary Public for the Province of Ontario in January 2016. Seeing the need for lawyers with genuine concern in clients, Jake likes to imbue the legal practice with a touch of Filipino hospitality and is committed to resolving the client’s legal matter while making them feel welcome in his office, providing a positive experience for all. His practice includes immigration, family, real estate, wills & estates, corporate, civil, and criminal law. Jake’s other credentials include being a current member of the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Society Toronto, CFA Institute (Virginia, USA), and Philippine Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA). He is also a graduate of San Beda College and Philippine Law School. When not working, Jake loves spending some quality time with his wife and three kids by going on road trips and cooking for them on weekends. He has been a road cycling enthusiast for several years now and has constantly joined Toronto’s annual Ride for the Heart every spring.

Houman Mortazavi is a lawyer, adjunct university professor, legal scholar and professional engineer. He holds several university degrees including PhD in Law, LLB, BSc(Eng), MSc(Eng), MA(Econ), BA(Econ), MBA, and TEP (Candidate). Houman has been the recipient of several research awards as well as Teaching Award from Wilfrid Laurier University, School of Business and Economics, for his continuing teaching excellence and mastery of the subject areas taught. Houman is a civil litigation lawyer and an appellate litigator handling appeals and judicial review proceedings. He holds “Civil Litigation Certificate” from the Advocates’ Society. As a family law lawyer, Houman holds “Family Law Skills and Practice” Certificate from Osgoode Hall Law School. Houman is a university professor and has taught Finance and Accounting courses (CGA). He handles complex and high-conflict family law and property/asset division matters. Houman also argues immigration and refugee cases before the Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) and Federal Court. Houman holds “Adjudication for Administrative Agencies, Boards and Tribunals” Certificate from Osgoode Hall Law School. Houman is a member of STEP Canada, Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, and we take on contentious estate litigation and capacity litigation matters, as well as estate administration issues including probate application and certificate of appointment of estate trustee. Houman specialized in Tort Law and he is a trial lawyer and handles variety of personal injury cases, both Accident Benefits (AB) and Tort. Houman is a professional civil engineer, and he is also a real estate lawyer assisting his clients with all types of real estate transactions such as purchase, sale and refinancing. He also provides both investment and real estate consultation, and as a civil litigator, he takes on real estate and construction litigation cases. Our Head Office is conveniently located in the heart of North York in the City of Toronto. North York City Centre is a central business district in Toronto. We are 2 minutes walk from North York subway station, just south of Mel Lastman Square; alternatively, 5 minutes walk underground from Yonge-Sheppard station. We have multiple offices across the GTA to accommodate our clients: Downtown Toronto (3 Locations), North York, Thornhill, Richmond Hill, Aurora, New Market, Markham, Mississauga (2 Locations), Oakville, Scarborough, Vaughan, Etobicoke, and we accept clients from across Ontario.

Founded in 1977 by Ruben Cusipag, Tessie Jew, Voltaire de Leon, Carmencita Hernandez, and Helen Mascardo, Kababayan Multicultural Centre embodies the spirit of community, support, and belonging for newcomers in Toronto, Ontario. The word "kababayan" itself reflects the organization's core mission—more than just a fellow citizen, it represents the mutual support and shared belonging that defines the centre's work. What began as a resource specifically for the Filipino immigrant community has evolved into a welcoming hub serving newcomers from all racial and ethnic backgrounds seeking equity and social inclusion in Canada. Operating as a non-partisan, non-political non-profit organization, KMC is guided by core values of collaboration, community engagement, compassion, commitment, and equity, diversity, and inclusion. The centre's legacy spans nearly five decades of advocacy and service, from opposing white supremacy in the 1980s to pioneering employment pathways for internationally-trained professionals and establishing support networks for vulnerable care workers. Today, KMC continues this tradition of empowerment by delivering tailored, client-centered programs that meet newcomers where they are—whether through one-on-one counselling, group workshops, or community social activities. With three physical locations and online services throughout Toronto, the organization remains committed to ensuring every newcomer feels at home. Supported by federal, provincial, and municipal funding, KMC's caring and professional staff work tirelessly to help immigrants overcome language barriers, find employment, access housing, and build meaningful connections. The centre's impact speaks for itself: over 70,000 community members served and thousands of lives transformed through dedicated support and unwavering commitment to newcomer success.

Since its origins in June 1986 at a Philippine Independence Day celebration in Toronto, ON, the Philippine Artists Group of Canada has evolved into a meaningful cultural institution connecting Filipino artists and the broader community. Born from the informal gatherings of pioneering artists including Ed Araquel, Art Cunanan, Tony Doctor, Rol Lampitoc, and others, the organization emerged from a shared vision to develop artistic gifts collectively, achieve greater impact, and maintain higher professional standards while staying rooted in their cultural heritage. For Filipino migrants building new lives in Canada, PAG represents much more than an artists' collective—it serves as a vital link to their cultural past and a custodian of Philippine artistic values and traditions. The organization has grown to include accomplished contemporary artists active throughout Ontario, while remaining selective in welcoming new members who share the group's ideals. Beyond exhibitions and artistic presentations, PAG strengthens community bonds through participation in worthwhile projects and cultural celebrations, serving as an umbrella organization that provides shelter, mentorship, and identity for young and aspiring Filipino artists in Canada. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the Philippine Artists Group of Canada has demonstrated its commitment to preserving and advancing Philippine visual arts across multiple generations. The organization's annual art exhibits have become much-anticipated events in the Greater Toronto Area's Filipino-Canadian community, celebrating how contemporary artists honor the past while shaping the future. Through its work, PAG embodies the principle that art transcends borders, connecting diaspora communities to their roots while enriching Canada's multicultural artistic landscape.

Founded as an overseas chapter in May 2011, Anakbayan Toronto represents a vibrant community of Filipino youth committed to national democratic principles and social transformation. Built on the legacy of Anakbayan Philippines, established on November 30, 1998—the birth anniversary of Filipino hero Andrés Bonifacio—this Toronto, ON-based organization brings together young people from diverse backgrounds including workers, peasants, students, professionals, and migrants. What distinguishes Anakbayan Toronto is its holistic approach to community building: members don't simply advocate for Philippine issues but actively engage with the broader Toronto community to address systemic injustices and democratic deficits. The organization believes in the power of youth leadership and collective action, providing spaces where young Filipinos aged 13-35 can develop political consciousness, build skills, and work alongside others toward genuine liberation and democratic rights. Since its formation, Anakbayan Toronto has cultivated meaningful relationships with allied organizations and community partners who share commitments to justice and equality. The chapter operates as more than an advocacy group—it functions as a movement-building space where personal growth, community care, and political transformation intersect. By rooting itself in Toronto's Filipino-Canadian community while maintaining connections to the broader national democratic struggle, Anakbayan Toronto honors both its heritage and its responsibility to local communities, creating opportunities for young people to become agents of positive change in their neighborhoods and beyond.