VANCOUVER Mayor Ken Sim on Thursday joined representatives of the Filipino community to announce a new motion coming before Vancouver City Council that would prioritize the review of a proposed Filipino cultural centre and accompanying hotel in Mount Pleasant.
“For decades, the Filipino community has dreamed of a permanent cultural home in our city. Today, we take another step forward towards making that dream a reality,” said Sim. “This proposed centre will give Vancouver a space that reflects the strength, pride, and resilience of the Filipino community.”
The proposed complex would include space for cultural programming, language/cooking classes, and a gallery that could become the largest collection of Filipino art outside of the Philippines. The centre would be accompanied by a hotel to support tourism, events, and those traveling for medical care.
“The Filipino community has given so much to Vancouver, and this centre will be a place to celebrate that legacy for generations to come,” said Sim. “We know how much this news means for the community and are proud to be working towards a pathway for this proposal to move forward.”
If passed, the Mayor’s motion will direct City staff to work with the Filipino Legacy Society to identify an interim community space where programming and events can begin right away. The motion will also begin the process of developing a monument recognizing Filipino history and contributions in Vancouver.
“A dedicated cultural centre will honour the stories of our community, strengthen our shared identity, and give future generations a place to gather, learn, and celebrate,” said Warren Dean Flandez, Director and Chair for the Filipino Legacy Society. “ Thank you to Mayor Sim and Vancouver City Council for their dedication towards seeing this important project move forward.”
The motion is set to come before Council on Wednesday, November 26.
“This marks an important moment for the Filipino community in Vancouver. We have worked toward this goal for a long time and we are grateful to see a clear path beginning to take shape,” said Mable Elmore, MLA for Vancouver-Kensington. “A cultural centre of this scale will help preserve our heritage, support our artists and cultural leaders, and create a lasting home for Filipino culture in Vancouver. I would like to thank Mayor Sim and Councillor Zhou for their leadership in helping bring this project to Vancouver.”
