Dr. Tom Virey
TORONTO, Ontario, Canada — One of the pillars of the Filipino community in Canada will be celebrating a milestone. Dr. Tomas G. Virey Jr. will be turning 85!
Dr. Virey is a physician who received his specialty training in Neuro-Psychiatry from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of London, England.
In the Philippines, he was chief of the National Mental Hospital in Mariveles, Bataan. Prior to immigrating to Canada, he was the director of Mental Hygiene of the Department of Health, Manila. While in this position, he formulated the Mental Health Act, which led to the creation of mental care and treatment facilities throughout the country. He was the author of reference books on Psychiatric Hospital Management and Public Health Role and on Heart Diseases.
He has been a very active part of the communities he was involved with, both in the Philippines and in Canada. He was one of the distinguished leaders of the Philippine Medical Association and the Psychiatrist and Neurologist Association of the Philippines. He led numerous community organizations. He is the founder and acclaimed president of the Philippine Canadian Association of Brockville since the early 1970s until his retirement and move to Mississauga. He was a member of the Brockville Operatic Society as a Performer and as a First Violinist.
In Mississauga, he extended his community involvement and support through volunteerism and leadership with Culture Philippines of Ontario, the Nagcarlan Association of which he is the incumbent president, the Kalayaan Cultural Community, Canadian Citizenship Hosting, the Friend’s Connection, the Advisory Council of Trillium Hospital and was also a long standing member of the Brampton Symphony Orchestra as a First Violinist and Keyboard Player from 1988 to 2005. He led choir groups. He also is a music composer.
He was initiated to the Order of the Knights of Rizal in 1994. He is a lifetime member and a Gold Cross Service recipient. He rose through the Knights of Rizal ranks and held positions such as Chapter Commander of Mississauga and Area Commander for Western Canada. He founded and organized the Ana Kalang Chapter, one of the most active chapters in the Philippines, in Nagcarlan, Laguna (his hometown) in 2005. He currently holds the position of Deputy Commander for Canada.
Sir Dr. Tom Virey currently holds the position of deputy regional commander of the Order of the Knights of Rizal, Canada Regional Council.
The entire Filipino community joins Dr. Virey’s family in celebrating his life achievements and accomplishments. (St. Jamestown News Service)
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