B.C. NDP and Conservatives each pledge $15 million for a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre

The BC NDP, led by Premier David Eby, and the B.C. Conservatives, led by Lorne Doerkson, have each pledged to set aside $15 million to help establish a permanent Filipino Cultural Centre if elected in the provincial general election on Saturday, Oct. 24, 2026. The parties announced the campaign commitments today, building on the provincial government’s previously stated intentions and community consultation on a purpose-built home celebrating Filipino Canadian heritage and contributions to British Columbia.

Eby said Filipino Canadians have a vibrant history in British Columbia and that a dedicated cultural centre is long overdue. He said the centre would reflect the spirit of “kapwa” and capture the diversity, vibrancy and resilience of the hundreds of thousands of Filipinos who call B.C. home. In announcing his campaign platform, Doerkson pointed to Filipino Canadians’ work in health-care services and seniors’ homes. He said Filipino British Columbians have cared for patients, kept businesses running and strengthened communities, and that a Conservative government would ensure the Filipino community finally has a place to gather and celebrate who they are.

The provincial funding would supplement the federal government’s 2025 commitment to help fund a Filipino Cultural Centre in B.C. The federal government has not publicly disclosed its contribution. The Conservatives say it would match the proposed $15 million in provincial funding, bringing the two senior governments’ combined contribution to $30 million. Filipino organizations have put forward competing proposals to develop and operate a permanent centre in Metro Vancouver: one in Burnaby and two in Vancouver. Neither the provincial nor federal government has indicated a preferred proposal or host city.

The leading proposal so far involves two mixed-use hotel towers just off Main Street in Vancouver’s Mount Pleasant neighbourhood. The cultural centre would occupy the lower floors of one tower, and a portion of annual hotel revenue would support its ongoing operations and programming. Vancouver City Council gave the concept preliminary endorsement in late 2025; the developer’s next step is to submit a rezoning application. The developer has partnered with the Filipino Legacy Society. The project has gained considerable momentum, particularly following the deadly tragedy at Vancouver’s 2025 Lapu Lapu Day block party.

In September 2026, work was well underway to convert the former Blenz Coffee space in the Library Square atrium in downtown Vancouver into a temporary Filipino Cultural Centre operated by the Filipino Legacy Society, with support from the City of Vancouver. The interim centre spans more than 1,500 sq. ft. and is expected to open soon, serving the community until a permanent home is ready. Society chair Warren Flandez said Filipino Canadians are a core part of Vancouver’s diverse fabric, but the community had not had a cultural home in the city. For decades, he said, they had gathered in borrowed spaces. He said the interim location at Library Square, an iconic Vancouver site, would give the Filipino community a place to call home for now.

Days before Eby called a snap provincial election, the provincial government announced Surrey as the host city for a new South Asian museum. A memorandum of understanding with the City of Surrey has been signed to advance planning. Vancouver was also considered, but the project has no established site, budget or timeline. The selection follows the province’s earlier decision to establish the Chinese Canadian Museum in Vancouver’s historic Chinatown. The museum opened in summer 2023, and the non-profit organization overseeing it received more than $50 million in funding from all three levels of government.